BESCHI, CONSTANZO GIUSEPPE: - A Grammar of the High Dialect of the Tamil Language, termed Shen-Tamil: to which is Added an Introduction to Tamil Poetry. Translated from the original Latin, by Benjamin Guy Babington. Madras, The College Press, 1822.

. 4to. Pp. (ii), xii, 117 + 5 content. Wide margins. Contemporary calf, blind-stamped border on the covers, spine gilt with red title label, rubbed, hinges starting. Library markings on front endpapers. (C.M.S.) Some leaves with small marginal wormholes (no text loss). Occasionally some light staining. Rare first printed edition, translated into English from the original Latin completed in manuscript form about 100 years earlier but not printed at that time. Beschi was born in Italy in 1680 but spent most of his life as a Jesuit missionary in India. He was the founder of the Madura mission and became one of the earliest and most distinguished pioneers in the field of Tamil studies. He composed several linguistic works but is probably best known as a Tamil poet. He produced a grammar of Low Tamil (the common dialect) in Latin which was printed at Tranquebar in 1728. The present grammar of Shen-Tamil (the high dialect) was composed the following year, but for an unknown reason was never printed. This English version, from the original Latin, is based on a compilation of texts, transcriptions and more. It remains a pioneering study of an old and complex language by a sensitive and meticulous scholar and a talented translator. The translator Benjamin Guy Babington was an English physician and Oriental scholar who spent about ten years in India. Vater p. 240.

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