ABSTRACT
The Tamil syllabary derives, via Grantha forms, from the Brahml script. The grid consists of eighteen consonants (each with inherent /a/) and twelve vowels (including two diphthongs, /ai/ and /au/). See the accompanying table. Traditionally, the consonants are known as 'body-letters' and the vowels as 'life-letters'; the vocalized consonants are then known as 'life-body letters' or 'animated forms'.
