IS TAMIL CONSONANT “G" A MISLEADING FACTOR? - A PILOT STUDY

• KEERTHI PRIYA MARAN,*  
• Prabhu Karuppiah

Abstract

The article emphasizes the importance of recognizing linguistic diversity in palatographic evaluations, particularly in clinical settings. It highlights how the Tamil language's "G" consonant displays unique phonetic variations compared to English, indicating the necessity for customized assessment tools. Relying solely on English norms may not accurately capture the nuances of other languages. Thus, developing specific palatographic indices for each language is crucial for precise evaluations and meeting the needs of diverse patient populations. This approach aligns with healthcare principles of linguistic and cultural competence, ultimately improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy. Study Objective: This study aims to examine the influence of Tamil phonetics on the fabrication of complete dentures, using palatogram analysis for evaluation. Materials and Methods: The study involved 10 individuals who were completely edentulous and wore dentures. The dentures were fabricated and assessed for phonetic influences using specific Tamil phonetic sounds: SH, N, CH, K, AND G. The primary focus of this article is on the phonetic sound G, evaluated using the word "Jeevan." The phonetic evaluation was conducted through the palatogram method. Results: The study revealed that the palatograms obtained from all edentulous patients displayed significant variations in palatographic patterns. These patterns were more linguoalveolar or linguopalatal, unlike the velar sounds in English consonants.

Keywords

Key Words: Phonetics, Palatogram, Tamil, Prosthesis, Denture, Completely Edentulous