maritime activities economy and social customs of the muslims of ...

In Arabic language the term Arvi (Lisenul Arvi or liscenul Arvi) is used to
indicate Tamil language. In Tamil the Arabic Tamil was also called as Muslim Tamil
and in Ceylon Sonakar Tamil. Arabic Tamil was used even in correspondence among
the Muslims of Coromandel and Ceylon. There were occasions when people printed
invitations In Arabic Tamil. Further, it was familiar to Muslim women who were
drtually lacking the writing knowledge in Tamil. From linguistic polnt of view, It may
appear to be a different dialect coming out of the mixture of Arabic and Tamil but
not a separate language. It was only a language of script. Only those who can read
Arabic can read Arabic Tamil. Some of the scholars are of the view that like
Sanskrit to the Hindus, Latin to Christians, Arabic Tamil was the language of the
Muslim elites and was not a popular one. The Arabic Tamil began to decline by the
end of the nineteenth century'Z1.
The Muslims along the coastal region speak chaste Tamil even to this day.
Original and antique Tamil words, unmutilated are in use among them in day today
life. Tamil is the language in every sphere of their life. Thus the Tamil Muslims
live as Tamils in the main stream, like any other religious groups of people of Tamil
region.
The kinship terms of the Marakkayars are peculiar of it's kind and not
prevalent among other sects of Muslims. This may be due to the Arab ethnological
connections. A few terms that are in use in the Coastal region will go to show this
fact.
Kinship term Marakkayar Labbai Rowthar
Father V~PP~ Atha Atha
Mother Umma Amma Amma
Father's father Vappappa APP~ APP~
Father's mother Vappamma Athamma Athamma
Mother's father Kannuvappa APP~ APP~
Mother's mother Kannamma Nannima Nannima