1. Dravidian Origin:
* Most commonly accepted view: Tamil is considered a Dravidian language, part of the Dravidian language family. This family is believed to be indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, predating the arrival of Indo-European languages.
* No direct ancestor: Tamil doesn't directly descend from any known language within the Dravidian family. It's considered a "sister language" to other Dravidian languages like Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, all evolving independently from a common ancestor.
2. External Influences:
* Possible connections: While Tamil's core is Dravidian, there are theories about potential influences from other language families:
* Austroasiatic: Some researchers suggest connections to Austroasiatic languages like Mon-Khmer, based on shared vocabulary and grammatical structures.
* Other Dravidian languages: Tamil has undoubtedly borrowed words and grammatical features from other Dravidian languages throughout its history.
* Indo-European languages: Tamil has borrowed words from Sanskrit, especially during the rise of Hinduism and the development of Tamil literature.
3. Lack of Definitive Proof:
* Limited historical evidence: The history of Tamil is not fully documented. While ancient Tamil literature exists, it doesn't provide a complete picture of the language's development.
* Ongoing research: Linguists continue to research the origins of Tamil, comparing its features to other language families and analyzing historical data.
In conclusion:
Tamil is primarily a Dravidian language with a rich history and unique features. While there are theories about external influences, its core identity remains firmly rooted in the Dravidian family. However, the exact origins and evolution of Tamil continue to be a subject of debate and ongoing research.