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Zitierweise / cite as:
Hodson, Thomas: An elementary grammar of the Kannada, or Canarese language. -- 1. The alphabet (§§ 1 - 14). -- Fassung vom 2011-08-19. -- URL: http://www.payer.de/hodson/hodson01.htm
First published as: Hodson, Thomas: An elementary grammar of the Kannada, or Canarese language ; in which every word used in the examples is translated, and the pronunciation is given in English characters. -- 2. ed. -- Bangalore : Wesleyan Mission Press, 1864. -- 128 p. ; 23 cm.
First time published here: 2011-08-14
Revisions: 2011-08-19
©opyright: Public domain
This text is part of the section Sanskrit und Indien of Tüpfli's Global Village Library
If you don't get the diacritica displayed, install a Unicode font like Tahoma.
[How to write Kannaḍa see:
Payer, Alois <1944 - >: Writing and reading Kannaḍa. -- Fassung vom 2009-12-20. -- URL: http://www.payer.de/kittel/kittel02a.htm]
1. In the modern Canarese alphabet, there are fourteen Vowels, thirty-four Consonants, two letters which are either vowels or consonants, and one Compound letter.
2. Vowels [ಸ್ವರ - svara]
Short - ಹ್ರ್ಸವ - hrasva | ಅ - a | ಇ - i | ಉ - u | ಋ - ṛ | ಎ - e | ಒ - o |
Long - ದೀರ್ಘ - dīrgha | ಆ - ā | ಈ - ī | ಊ - ū | ೠ - ṝ | ಏ - ē | ಓ - ō |
Diphtongs | ಐ - ai | ಔ - au |
3. The following are either vowels or consonants:
ಂ ṃ
ಃ ḥ
4. Consonants [ವ್ಜಜನ vyañjana].
Twenty-five Classified Consonants [ಪಯ್ಚವರ್ಗ - pañcavarga].
Unaspirated ಅಲ್ಪಪ್ರಾಣ alpaprāṇa |
Aspirated ಮಹಾಪ್ರಾಣ mahāprāṇa |
Unaspirated ಅಲ್ಪಪ್ರಾಣ alpaprāṇa |
Unaspirated ಅಲ್ಪಪ್ರಾಣ alpaprāṇa |
Nasal ಅನುನಾಸಿಕ anunāsika |
|
Guttural class ಕಣ್ಠ್ಜ kaṇṭhya |
ಕ ka |
ಖ kha |
ಗ ga |
ಘ gha |
ಙ ṅa |
Palatal ತಾಲವ್ಜ tālavya |
ಚ ca |
ಛ cha |
ಜ ja |
ಝ jha |
ಞ ña |
Cerebral ಮೂರ್ಧನ್ಜ mūrdhanya |
ಟ ṭa |
ಠ ṭha |
ಡ ḍa |
ಢ ḍha |
ಣ ṇa |
Dental ದನ್ತ್ಜ dantya |
ತ ta |
ಥ tha |
ದ da |
ಧ dha |
ನ na |
Labial ಒಷ್ಠ್ಯ ōṣṭhya |
ಪ pa |
ಫ pha |
ಬ ba |
ಭ bha |
ಮ ma |
Nine Unclassified Consonants [ಅವರ್ಗ - avarga].
ಜ ya |
ರ ra |
ಲ la |
ವ va |
ಶ śa |
ಷ ṣa |
ಸ sa |
|
ಹ ha |
ಳ ḷa |
The Compound Letter ಕ್ಷ kṣa, is compounded of ಕ ka and ಷ ṣa.
5. Vowels
Initial forms | Medial and final forms | Corresponding Characters | Power of the vowels | Examples of Consonants ans vowels united |
ಅ | - (inherent) | a | like a in about | ಕ್ and ಅ becomes ಕ ka |
ಆ | ಾ | ā | a in far | ಕ್ + ಆ > ಕಾ |
ಇ | ಿ | i | i in him | ಗ್ + ಇ > ಗಿ ka |
ಈ | ೀ | ī | ee in deep | ದ್ + ಈ > ಡೀ kā |
ಉ | ು | u | oo in wool | ನ್ + ಉ > ನು gi |
ಊ | ೂ | ū | oo in cool | ಪ್ + ಊ > ಪೂ dī |
ಋ | ೃ | ṛ | ಬ್ + ಋ > ಬೃ bṛ | |
ೠ | ṝ | ಮ್ + ೠ > ಮೄ mṝ | ||
ಎ | ೆ | e | e in met | ಯ್ + ಎ > ಯೆ ye |
ಏ | ೇ | ē | a in mate | ರ್ + ಏ > ರೇ rē |
ಐ | ೈ | ai | y in my | ಲ್ + ಐ > ಲೈ lai |
ಒ | ೊ | o | o in not | ಶ್ + ಒ > ಷೊ śo |
ಓ | ೋ | ō | o in note | ಸ್ + ಓ > ಸೋ sō |
ಔ | ೌ | au | ow in owl | ಹ್ + ಔ > ಹೌ hau |
6. Consonants
Table showing the alphabet with the combinations of vowels and consonants
ಅ | ಆ ā | ಇ i | ಈ ī | ಉ u | ಊ ū | ಋ ṛ | ಎ e |
ಏ ē |
ಐ ai | ಒ o | ಓ ō | ಔ au | ಂ (ṃ) | ಃ (ḥ) |
ಕ ka | ಕಾ kā | ಕಿ ki | ಕೀ kī | ಕು ku | ಕೂ kū | ಕೃ kṛ | ಕೆ ke | ಕೇ kē | ಕೈ kai | ಕೊ ko | ಕೋ kō | ಕೌ kau | ಕಂ kaṃ | ಕಃ kaḥ |
ಖ kha | ಖಾ khā | ಖಿ khi | ಖೀ khī | ಖು khu | ಖೂ khū | ಖೃ khṛ | ಖೆ khe | ಖೇ khē | ಖೈ khai | ಖೊ kho | ಖೋ khō | ಖೌ khau | ಖಂ khaṃ | ಖಃ khaḥ |
ಗ ga | ಗಾ gā | ಗಿ gi | ಗೀ gī | ಗು gu | ಗೂ gū | ಗೃ gṛ | ಗೆ ge | ಗೇ gē | ಗೈ gai | ಗೊ go | ಗೋ gō | ಗೌ gau | ಗಂ gaṃ | ಗಃ gaḥ |
ಘ gha | ಘಾ ghā | ಘಿ ghi | ಘೀ ghī | ಘು ghu | ಘೂ ghū | ಘೃ ghṛ | ಘೆ ghe | ಘೇ ghē | ಘೈ ghai | ಘೊ gho | ಘೋ ghō | ಘೌ ghau | ಘಂ ghaṃ | ಘಃ ghaḥ |
ಙ ṅa | ಙಾ ṅā | ಙಿ ṅi | ಙೀ ṅī | ಙು ṅu | ಙೂ ṅū | ಙೃ ṅṛ | ಙೆ ṅe | ಙೇ ṅē | ಙೈ ṅai | ಙೊ ṅo | ಙೋ ṅō | ಙೌ ṅau | ಙಂ ṅaṃ | ಙಃ ṅaḥ |
ಚ ca | ಚಾ cā | ಚಿ ci | ಚೀ cī | ಚು cu | ಚೂ cū | ಚೃ cṛ | ಚೆ ce | ಚೇ cē | ಚೈ cai | ಚೊ co | ಚೋ cō | ಚೌ cau | ಚಂ caṃ | ಚಃ caḥ |
ಛ cha | ಛಾ chā | ಛಿ chi | ಛೀ chī | ಛು chu | ಛೂ chū | ಛೃ chṛ | ಛೆ che | ಛೇ chē | ಛೈ chai | ಛೊ cho | ಛೋ chō | ಛೌ chau | ಚಂ chaṃ | ಚಃ chaḥ |
ಜ ja | ಜಾ jā | ಜಿ ji | ಜೀ jī | ಜು ju | ಜೂ jū | ಜೃ jṛ | ಜೆ je | ಜೇ jē | ಜೈ jai | ಜೊ jo | ಜೋ jō | ಜೌ jau | ಜಂ jaṃ | ಜಃ jaḥ |
ಝ jha | ಝಾ jhā | ಝಿ jhi | ಝೀ jhī | ಝು jhu | ಝೂ jhū | ಝೃ jhṛ | ಝೆ jhe | ಝೇ jhē | ಝೈ jhai | ಝೊ jho | ಝೋ jhō | ಝೌ jhau | ಝಂ jhaṃ | ಝಃ jhaḥ |
ಞ ña | ಞಾ ñā | ಞಿ ñi | ಞೀ ñī | ಞು ñu | ಞೂ ñū | ಞೃ ñṛ | ಞೆ ñe | ಞೇ ñē | ಞೈ ñai | ಞೊ ño | ಞೋ ñō | ಞೌ ñau | ಞಂ ñaṃ | ಞಃ ñaḥ |
ಟ ṭa | ಟಾ ṭā | ಟಿ ṭi | ಟೀ ṭī | ಟು ṭu | ಟೂ ṭū | ಟೃ ṭṛ | ಟೆ ṭe | ಟೇ ṭē | ಟೈ ṭai | ಟೊ ṭo | ಟೋ ṭō | ಟೌ ṭau | ಟಂ ṭaṃ | ಟಃ ṭaḥ |
ಠ ṭha | ಠಾ ṭhā | ಠಿ ṭhi | ಠೀ ṭhī | ಠು ṭhu | ಠೂ ṭhū | ಠೃ ṭhṛ | ಠೆ ṭhe | ಠೇ ṭhē | ಠೈ ṭhai | ಠೊ ṭho | ಠೋ ṭhō | ಠೌ ṭhau | ಠಂ ṭhaṃ | ಠಃ ṭhaḥ |
ಡ ḍa | ಡಾ ḍā | ಡಿ ḍi | ಡೀ ḍī | ಡು ḍu | ಡೂ ḍū | ಡೃ ḍṛ | ಡೆ ḍe | ಡೇ ḍē | ಡೈ ḍai | ಡೊ ḍo | ಡೋ ḍō | ಡೌ ḍau | ಡಂ ḍaṃ | ಡಃ ḍaḥ |
ಢ ḍha | ಢಾ ḍhā | ಢಿ ḍhi | ಢೀ ḍhī | ಢು ḍhu | ಢೂ ḍhū | ಢೃ ḍhṛ | ಢೆ ḍhe | ಢೇ ḍhē | ಢೈ ḍhai | ಢೊ ḍho | ಢೋ ḍhō | ಢೌ ḍhau | ಢಂ ḍhaṃ | ಢಃ ḍhaḥ |
ಣ ṇa | ಣಾ ṇā | ಣಿ ṇi | ಣೀ ṇī | ಣು ṇu | ಣೂ ṇū | ಣೃ ṇṛ | ಣೆ ṇe | ಣೇ ṇē | ಣೈ ṇai | ಣೊ ṇo | ಣೋ ṇō | ಣೌ ṇau | ಣಂ ṇaṃ | ಣಃ ṇaḥ |
ತ ta | ತಾ tā | ತಿ ti | ತೀ tī | ತು tu | ತೂ tū | ತೃ tṛ | ತೆ te | ತೇ tē | ತೈ tai | ತೊ to | ತೋ tō | ತೌ tau | ತಂ taṃ | ತಃ taḥ |
ಥ tha | ಥಾ thā | ಥಿ thi | ಥೀ thī | ಥು thu | ಥೂ thū | ಥೃ thṛ | ಥೆ the | ಥೇ thē | ಥೈ thai | ಥೊ tho | ಥೋ thō | ಥೌ thau | ಥಂ thaṃ | ಥಃ thaḥ |
ದ da | ದಾ dā | ದಿ di | ದೀ dī | ದು du | ದೂ dū | ದೃ dṛ | ದೆ de | ದೇ dē | ದೈ dai | ದೊ do | ದೋ dō | ದೌ dau | ದಂ daṃ | ದಃ daḥ |
ಧ dha | ಧಾ dhā | ಧಿ dhi | ಧೀ dhī | ಧು dhu | ಧೂ dhū | ಧೃ dhṛ | ಧೆ dhe | ಧೇ dhē | ಧೈ dhai | ಧೊ dho | ಧೋ dhō | ಧೌ dhau | ಧಂ dhaṃ | ಧಃ dhaḥ |
ನ na | ನಾ nā | ನಿ ni | ನೀ nī | ನು nu | ನೂ nū | ನೃ nṛ | ನೆ ne | ನೇ nē | ನೈ nai | ನೊ no | ನೋ nō | ನೌ nau | ನಂ naṃ | ನಃ naḥ |
ಪ pa | ಪಾ pā | ಪಿ pi | ಪೀ pī | ಪು pu | ಪೂ pū | ಪೃ pṛ | ಪೆ pe | ಪೇ pē | ಪೈ pai | ಪೊ po | ಪೋ pō | ಪೌ pau | ಪಂ paṃ | ಪಃ paḥ |
ಫ pha | ಫಾ phā | ಫಿ phi | ಫೀ phī | ಫು phu | ಫೂ phū | ಫೃ phṛ | ಫೆ phe | ಫೇ phē | ಫೈ phai | ಫೊ pho | ಫೋ phō | ಫೌ phau | ಫಂ phaṃ | ಫಃ phaḥ |
ಬ ba | ಬಾ bā | ಬಿ bi | ಬೀ bī | ಬು bu | ಬೂ bū | ಬೃ bṛ | ಬೆ be | ಬೇ bē | ಬೈ bai | ಬೊ bo | ಬೋ bō | ಬೌ bau | ಬಂ baṃ | ಬಃ baḥ |
ಭ bha | ಭಾ bhā | ಭಿ bhi | ಭೀ bhī | ಭು bhu | ಭೂ bhū | ಭೃ bhṛ | ಭೆ bhe | ಭೇ bhē | ಭೈ bhai | ಭೊ bho | ಭೋ bhō | ಭೌ bhau | ಭಂ bhaṃ | ಭಃ bhaḥ |
ಮ ma | ಮಾ mā | ಮಿ mi | ಮೀ ṃī | ಮು mu | ಮೂ mū | ಮೃ mṛ | ಮೆ me | ಮೇ mē | ಮೈ mai | ಮೊ mo | ಮೋ mō | ಮೌ mau | ಮಂ maṃ | ಮಃ maḥ |
ಯ ya | ಯಾ yā | ಯಿ yi | ಯೀ yī | ಯು yu | ಯೂ yū | ಯೃ yṛ | ಯೆ ye | ಯೇ yē | ಯೈ yai | ಯೊ yo | ಯೋ yō | ಯೌ yau | ಯಂ yaṃ | ಜಃ yaḥ |
ರ ra | ರಾ rā | ರಿ ri | ರೀ rī | ರು ru | ರೂ rū | ರೃ rṛ | ರೆ re | ರೇ rē | ರೈ rai | ರೊ ro | ರೋ rō | ರೌ rau | ರಂ raṃ | ರಃ raḥ |
ಱ ṟa | ಱಾ ṟā | ಱಿ ṟi | ಱೀ ṟī | ಱು ṟu | ಱೂ ṟū | ಱೃ ṟṛ | ಱೆ ṟe | ಱೇ ṟē | ಱೈ ṟai | ಱೊ ṟo | ಱೋ ṟō | ಱೌ ṟau | ಱಂ ṟaṃ | ಱಃ ṟaḥ |
ಲ la | ಲಾ lā | ಲಿ li | ಲೀ lī | ಲು lu | ಲೂ lū | ಲೃ lṛ | ಲೆ le | ಲೇ lē | ಲೈ lai | ಲೊ lo | ಲೋ lō | ಲೌ lau | ಲಂ laṃ | ಲಃ laḥ |
ವ va | ವಾ vā | ವಿ vi | ವೀ vī | ವು vu | ವೂ vū | ವೃ vṛ | ವೆ ve | ವೇ vē | ವೈ vai | ವೊ vo | ವೋ vō | ವೌ vau | ವಂ vaṃ | ವಃ vaḥ |
ಶ śa | ಶಾ śā | ಶಿ śi | ಶೀ śī | ಶು śu | ಶೂ śū | ಶೃ śṛ | ಶೆ śe | ಶೇ śē | ಶೈ śai | ಶೊ śo | ಶೋ śō | ಶೌ śau | ಶಂ śaṃ | ಶಃ śaḥ |
ಷ ṣa | ಷಾ ṣā | ಷಿ ṣi | ಷೀ ṣī | ಷು ṣu | ಷೂ ṣū | ಷೃ ṣṛ | ಷೆ ṣe | ಷೇ ṣē | ಷೈ ṣai | ಷೊ ṣo | ಷೋ ṣō | ಷೌ ṣau | ಷಂ ṣaṃ | ಷಃ ṣaḥ |
ಸ sa | ಸಾ sā | ಸಿ si | ಸೀ sī | ಸು su | ಸೂ sū | ಸೃ sṛ | ಸೆ se | ಸೇ sē | ಸೈ sai | ಸೊ so | ಸೋ sō | ಸೌ sau | ಸಂ saṃ | ಸಃ saḥ |
ಹ ha | ಹಾ hā | ಹಿ hi | ಹೀ hī | ಹು hu | ಹೂ hū | ಹೃ hṛ | ಹೆ he | ಹೇ hē | ಹೈ hai | ಹೊ ho | ಹೋ hō | ಹೌ hau | ಹಂ haṃ | ಹಃ haḥ |
ಳ ḷa | ಳಾ ḷā | ಳಿ ḷi | ಳೀ ḷī | ಳು ḷu | ಳೂ ḷū | ಳೃ ḷṛ | ಳೆ ḷe | ಳೇ ḷē | ಳೈ ḷai | ಳೊ ḷo | ಳೋ ḷō | ಳೌ ḷau | ಳಂ ḷaṃ | ಳಃ ḷaḥ |
ೞ ḻa | ೞಾ ḻā | ೞಿ ḻi | ೞೀ ḻī | ೞು ḻu | ೞೂ ḻū | ೞೃ ḻṛ | ೞೆ ḻe | ೞೇ ḻē | ೞೈ ḻai | ೞೊ ḻo | ೞೋ ḻō | ೞೌ ḻau | ೞಂ ḻaṃ | ೞಃ ḻaḥ |
7. 1st Vowels.
The vowels are pronounced according to the directions given in the preceding tabular view of the alphabet, except ಎ e, ಏ ē, ಒ o, ಓ ō, which, when initial, are pronounced ye, yē, vo, vō; as
In ṛ and ṝ the i and ī have the short and long sound of the French eu.
8. 2nd. Consonants.
The following fourteen Consonants are pronounced like the English letters by which thea are represented ಕ ka, ಗ ga, ಚ ca (Engl. cha), ಜ ja, ಪ pa, ಬ ba, ಮ ma, ಜ ya, ರ ra, ಲ la, ವ wa or va, ಷ ṣa (Engl. sha), ಸ sa, ಹ ha.
9. The remaining Consonants do not correspond with the letters of the English alphabet. The following are Dental letters; they must be pronounced with the tip of the tongue between the front teeth: ತ ta, ಹ tha, ದ da, ಧ dha, ನ na.
If the learner be not careful in giving the Dental sound to the above five letters, his Canarese pronunciation will be like the English of a negro, who says, dis, dat, dees, and dōze, instead of this, that, these and those.
10. The following are Cerebral letters:-
ಟ ṭa, ಠ ṭha, ಡ ḍa, ಢ ḍha, ಣ ṇa, ಷ ṣa, ಳ ḷa.
There is a dot below the English representatives of these cerebral letters, to distinguish them from dentals. They are pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned upwards, so as to touch the roof of the mouth, as far away from the front teeth as possible. This causes every letter of the cerebral class, especially when preceded by a long vowel, to commence with a slight sound of r. See the examples in the tabular view of the alphabet.
Unless the learner be careful to make a wide difference between the dental t and the cerebral ṭ, the dental d and the cerebral ḍ, &c. his pronunciation will be decidedly bad; he will often be unintelligible, and very frequently make the most ludicrous mistakes.
11. The short vowel ಅ a, is inherent in the initial or complete form of every consonant; so that every letter is capable of being a complete syllable. Thus, ಅವನ a-va-na, of him; ಅವಳ a-va-ḷa, of her; ಅವರ a-va-ra, of them; ಅದರ a-da-ra, of it.
12. The inherent vowel may be cut off by placing the mark ್ [Virāma] on the upper part of the consonant; thus ರ becomes ರ್, ವ becomes ವ್, &c. The consonant so deprived, is called half-letter.
The inherent vowel is also cut off when its consonant is paced below the line, or under another consonant, in the formation of a syllable; thus ಪ್ರ pra, ಗ್ಲ gla, ದ್ವ dva, ಸ್ನ sna, &c.
13. When a syllable is formed of two or more consonant, and one vowel, the vowel is always joined to the first or uppermost consonant, but sounded after the last or lowest one; thus, ಕ್ಲಿ kli, ತ್ಜು tyu, ಸ್ತ್ರೀ strī.
14. The half-letter r, is pronounced before the letter or syllable which, in writing and printing precedes it; thus
To 2. Sandhi or the Union of Words (§§ 15 - 24).