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67. What affixes are added on to indicate the plural
number?
'Kaḷ' 'ar'. These two affixes make the plural.
68. How is the affix 'kaḷ' added on?
After a palatal vowel it is sufficient to put 'kaḷ' alone.
Ex: 'tíyattikaḷ', 'stríkaḷ', 'talakaḷ' (=heads), 'teikaḷ' (=plants).
So also after half 'u'.
Ex: 'kálŭkaḷ' (=legs), 'pérŭkaḷ' (pérkal) (=names), 'kallŭ-
kaḷ' (=stones).
After words ending in á, ru, ú, ó, and full u, 'kkaḷ'
is used by duplication.
Ex: pitákkaḷ (=fathers), pitrukkaḷ (=fathers), púkkaḷ (=flowers),
gókkaḷ (=cows), terukkaḷ (=streets).
But we may also say 'púvukaḷ' (=flowers), 'teruvukaḷ'
(=streets), 'rávukaḷ' (= nights).
Am+kaḷ=anggaḷ.
Ex: maranggal, práṇanggal (=lives).
69. To what nouns is 'ar' affixed to form the plural?
It is affixed to nouns denoting rational beings.
Ex: Dévar, bráhmaṇar, tíyar, mátar (=mothers).
70. Are the affixes 'avar', 'ár” and 'már' also used with
nouns denoting rational beings?
These affixes are used honorifically.
Ex: rájávavar (=rájákkaḷ)
nampiyár = nampiyavar (= nampikaḷ)
putrimár (= daughters) (= putrikaḷ)
