Preserving Indigenous Ecological Knowledge Through Digital Humanities: A Lexical Analysis of Flora and Fauna Terminologies in Purananuru

Classical Tamil literature preserves valuable knowledge about language, culture, and the natural environment. Among the Sangam texts, Purananuru contains numerous references to flora and fauna that reflect the ecological awareness of ancient Tamil society. This study examines flora and fauna terminologies found in Songs 01–50 of Purananuru edited by Puliyur Kesigan (1999) with the aim of identifying ecological vocabulary and analysing its continuity and transformation in contemporary Tamil. A qualitative textual analysis approach was employed. The selected poems were systematically examined, and ecological terms were identified using the commentary. The collected data were recorded in a Microsoft Excel database containing the source word, meaning, contemporary equivalent, usage status, and type of linguistic change. The identified terms were analysed to determine patterns of lexical retention, lexical replacement, phonological modification, semantic change, and archaism. The findings reveal that many Sangam-era ecological terms have disappeared from modern Tamil usage or have been replaced by alternative lexical forms, while only a limited number remain in common use. These changes demonstrate the dynamic nature of language evolution and indicate the gradual decline of indigenous ecological vocabulary over time. To address this issue, the study proposes the development of a digital application named Senthamizh as a Digital Humanities initiative. The application is designed to serve as a digital repository of flora and fauna terminologies found in Purananuru, providing access to original terms, meanings, contextual references, modern equivalents, and linguistic notes. By combining literary research with digital technology, the study contributes to the preservation of Tamil linguistic heritage, indigenous ecological knowledge, and cultural sustainability in the digital era.

Digital Humanities, Ecological Knowledge, Flora and Fauna Terminologies, Purananuru, Tamil Language Preservation

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