The importance given to the Tamil language during the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) struggle is remarkable.
The LTTE had a ferocious memory of the need to preserve the name of the language in which Tamils were oppressed in Sri Lanka and the name of the language in which the same Tamils rose up.
The LTTE must be well aware that the battlefield and bunker life alone will not help it achieve its goal. That is why they went down equally with the judiciary and the language protection movement.
Where the Tamil language of the LTTE begins is the name they give to their organization and the names they give to their members. They took the lead in searching for pure Tamil words and firing on militants.
They established a separate department for the development of Tamil under the name of Tamil Development Corporation. Foreign language names given to Tamils through the Tamil Development Corporation were pointed out. As well as tens of thousands of pure Tamil names suggested.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) took the lead in creating new art words in Tamil. Today, in countries like India, Malaysia and Singapore, it is the LTTE that has pioneered the art form created by Tamil scholars.
Here is a list of some of the art words created by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Police-Police
The police were originally called guards and guards because they were the guardians of law and order. But since they were a separate department under the government there was a need to differentiate them from other guards. Thus the word ‘police’ was coined in pure Tamil.
Bakery-Bakery
Bakery products such as bread are baked in the fire, hence the name of the oven in pure Tamil.
Bake-pan
They put the word in pure Tamil as வெடுப்பி because it is heated in Vekkai.
Kutappi-cake
The recipe for making the cake is called Kuthappi Kuthappi as it is called Kuthappi in pure Tamil.
Cold-ice cream
Since it is seen as a cold game, they put the word ‘cold’ in pure Tamil.
They created pure Tamil words for vehicles running on the ground.
Since the vehicles are powered by a motor mechanism, the pure Tamil word for motor is used and they are graded according to the nature of the vehicle that is attached to the motor.
Bus-bus
Minivan-minibus, van
Delight-car (enjoys giving a happy feeling)
Truck / Dream-Lorry
Continuum-Rail / Train (Train is not a Tamil word. The chariot in it is Northern)
Battle-tank
Trolley-motorcycle
Water-engine boats
Binary-bicycle
These drivers were called drivers, not drivers in the vernacular.
In aviation technology in the sky was named as the vehicle for flying.
Plane-airplane (plane is a Norse word)
Kelihopter – Aerial (aerial)
It was customary in the North to refer to pilots as pilots. But in pure Tamil they called it Vanodikal. Similarly airports were called airfields.
Instead, the LTTE used them as workplaces for businesses, as a depository for the bank, and as those in charge of divisional heads.
If you want to know more about art words in pure Tamil, you can find it in the list of glossaries published by the Tamil Development Corporation.