Tamil is probably the oldest living language on the planet Earth. My mother tongue is Tamil. I studied in a Tamil medium until the advanced level. However, I still make spelling mistakes, and I tend to make mistakes when I read. I thought that while I learn other languages, I would try to improve my mother tongue to the highest level possible. I cannot type Tamil comfortably on computer keyboards, so I would take this opportunity to learn and type.
Research suggests that a strong foundation in one’s mother tongue can deeply influence cognitive thought processes and creative expression. Beyond personal growth, learning the Tamil language offers a gateway to vast knowledge in science, medicine, and the evolution of human civilization.
I am dedicating my learning journey to the late Orissa Balu (Siva Balasubramani), a dedicated researcher who worked tirelessly to uncover the missing links in Tamil history. I am honored to have met him personally and will always cherish the memory of our meeting.
Goal 1:
எண்ணும் எழுத்தும் கண்ணெனத் தகும்
(Numbers and letters are like the eyes)
Mastering the art of typing or writing provides a deep understanding of and a stronger association with a language. The level of involvement and focus required for writing is significant; it demands immense attention to detail.
To keep my cognitive abilities sharp, I’ve decided to relearn my mother tongue by mastering digital typing. While I originally learned to write with a pen, handwriting has fewer practical applications today. However, I believe handwriting provides a unique sense of grounding and involvement that ‘rewires’ the brain’s neural pathways—something typing now serves as a modern alternative for. You can see my full learning strategy in the post below.