Tamilmanam International Research Journal of Tamil Studies

Discourse refers to language in use, and discourse analysis is the systematic study of language as it is used in social contexts (Brown and Yule). Within educational settings, Classroom Discourse Analysis (CDA) emerged as a means of examining classroom interaction and student participation (Allwright). This paper presents a literature review of 30 studies on second-language classroom discourse conducted in Singapore and other countries. The review examines prevailing research questions, theoretical frameworks, and patterns of classroom interaction that have attracted scholarly attention. Analysis of the selected studies reveals that second-language primary classrooms are predominantly teacher-centred. Teacher talk constitutes the largest proportion of classroom discourse, followed by students’ choral responses. Classroom interactions are often characterised by the teacher’s control over topics, turn-taking, and participation structures, resulting in limited opportunities for natural communication. Teachers frequently employ display questions aimed at assessing students’ existing knowledge rather than facilitating the construction of new knowledge. Furthermore, questioning practices tend to emphasise lower-order thinking skills, with limited wait time provided for student responses. The findings of this review are consistent with those reported in previous classroom discourse studies and provide valuable insights into the nature of interaction within second-language classrooms. The review highlights the relationship between teacher discourse practices and student participation and suggests the need for pedagogical strategies that promote more meaningful interaction, higher-order thinking, and opportunities for authentic language use. These insights have important implications for enhancing the teaching and learning of second languages.

As described in the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam, while Pusalar conceived the idea of building a temple in his mind and constructed it for Lord Shiva, the Pallava King Rajasimha began constructing the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple. The outer surrounding walls of this temple, along with all the sculptures within it, are crafted as if narrating a devotional epic. The revelation brought out through this study is the event recorded by Sekkizhar in the Periya Puranam, stating that the consecration (Kumbhabhishekam) of the holy temple built by Rajasimha and that of Pusalar's temple—which he built tirelessly day and night within his mind—occurred on the exact same day.

Based on the aforementioned core narrative, this research paper systematically categorizes and analyzes the poetic descriptions from the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam. Furthermore, it compares the similarities and differences between the mind-built temple and the royal temple constructed of stone and brick using tables and explanatory figures. The central theme of this study focuses on how this puranic section establishes the Saiva Siddhanta principle that devotion relies primarily on internal devotion and thought rather than external wealth.

As described in the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam, while Pusalar conceived the idea of building a temple in his mind and constructed it for Lord Shiva, the Pallava King Rajasimha began constructing the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple. The outer surrounding walls of this temple, along with all the sculptures within it, are crafted as if narrating a devotional epic. The revelation brought out through this study is the event recorded by Sekkizhar in the Periya Puranam, stating that the consecration (Kumbhabhishekam) of the holy temple built by Rajasimha and that of Pusalar's temple—which he built tirelessly day and night within his mind—occurred on the exact same day.

Based on the aforementioned core narrative, this research paper systematically categorizes and analyzes the poetic descriptions from the Pusalar Nayanar Puranam. Furthermore, it compares the similarities and differences between the mind-built temple and the royal temple constructed of stone and brick using tables and explanatory figures. The central theme of this study focuses on how this puranic section establishes the Saiva Siddhanta principle that devotion relies primarily on internal devotion and thought rather than external wealth.

English has travelled a long road in India, from a colonial medium to a powerful public language used in politics, media, and international diplomacy. In contemporary India, political speeches delivered in English carry symbolic value, shaping public attitudes and national identity. This review paper explores how English functions as a foreign language in Indian political communication and how leading political figures use it to project authority, credibility, and identity. The study brings together theoretical ideas from EFL studies, Sociolinguistics, and Critical Discourse Analysis to understand how Indian politicians handle English in their public speeches. The paper reviews iconic figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and J. Jayalalithaa, and moves toward unavoidable contemporary personalities like Shashi Tharoor and Narendra Modi, who stand at two ends of the English-proficiency spectrum. Their unique linguistic choices show how English in political life is not just a language but a tool of image-making. The review highlights code-switching, rhetorical moves, pronunciation patterns, vocabulary choice, and audience design. The conclusion argues that English in Indian politics is a living, shifting performance, revealing how power, identity, and language walk hand-in-hand in the public sphere.

Konangi is a significant contemporary Tamil writer whose short stories exhibit distinctive postmodern narrative practices through innovative language, fragmented structures, and unconventional modes of representation. This article examines selected short stories of Konangi from a postmodern theoretical perspective, focusing on the ways in which his narratives challenge conventional literary structures and established modes of meaning-making. Particular attention is given to the dismantling of dominant centres, deconstruction, non-linear narration, plurality, linguistic experimentation, and the reconstruction of reality. The study also explores the representation of regional life, marginalised voices, power relations, social tensions, and individual experiences within his fictional world. Konangi’s narratives often disrupt chronological continuity and create multiple layers of meaning, thereby encouraging readers to participate actively in the process of interpretation. The study argues that his distinctive narrative strategies expand the possibilities of Tamil short fiction and demonstrate significant postmodern tendencies in contemporary Tamil literature. Through this analysis, the article highlights the aesthetic, linguistic, and ideological dimensions of Konangi’s short stories and establishes their relevance to the study of postmodern literary practices in Tamil.