indopersicaen-knscriptpart01

kɐnnəɽɐ

ಕನನಡ

Kannada

indopersica

Script

Part One

The Kannada letters and words described in this book are each

accompanied by a pronunciation key in the International

Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Please refer to these IPA keys for the

exact pronunciation of a Kannada letter or word.

The IPA is a scientific notation used for accurately transcribing

the sounds of most human languages. More about the IPA can

be found at http://www.yorku.ca/earmstro/ipa/ and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa .

The similarities described in this book between the

pronunciations of Kannada letters and ‘corresponding’ English

letters are only guidelines and should be considered as such.

http://www.yorku.ca/earmstro/ipa/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipa

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k

ಕ This letter has a sound similar to

k in skip

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ɡ

ಗ This letter has a sound similar to

g in go

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These are the letters we’ve just seen

k ɡ

ಕ ಗ

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p

ಪ This letter has a sound similar to

p in speak

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b

ಬ This letter has a sound similar to

b in bat

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These are the letters we’ve seen so far

k ɡ

ಕ ಗ p b

ಪ ಬ

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ʨ

ಚ This letter has a sound similar to

tch in catch

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ʥ

ಜ This letter has a sound similar to

dge in badge

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These are the letters we’ve seen so far

k ɡ

ಕ ಗ p b

ಪ ಬ ʨ ʥ

ಚ ಜ

The sounds of these letters are all called consonants

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Here’s a vowel sound

ɐ

This vowel sounds similar to

u in cut

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Look at these letters

kɐ ɡɐ

ಕ ಗ pɐ bɐ

ಪ ಬ ʨɐ ʥɐ

ಚ ಜ The sounds of these letters are made up of a consonant and a vowel

Notice how the letters look slightly different from their original shape?

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In short –

k

- =

kɐ

ಕ ಕ ɡ ɡɐ

ಗ ಗ p pɐ

ಪ ಪ b bɐ

ಬ ಬ ʨ ʨɐ

ಚ ಚ ʥ ʥɐ

ಜ ಜ

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Here’s another vowel

i


i in pin

This vowel has a special sign of its own –

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Now look at these ‘combo’ letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus a vowel

ki ɡi

ಕ ಗ pi bi

ಪ ಬ ʨi ʥi

ಚ ಜ Again, notice the difference from the original shape of the ‘basic’ letter?

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In short –

k

- + =

ki

ಕ ಕ ɡ ɡi

ಗ ಗ p pi

ಪ ಪ b bi

ಬ ಬ ʨ ʨi

ಚ ಚ ʥ ʥi

ಜ ಜ

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Notice the slightly different shape of this letter,

compared to the others

ɡi

ಗ

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And another vowel

u


u in bull

This vowel, too, has a special sign of its own –

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21

And some new combo letters,

with their shape slightly changed from the original –

ku ɡu

ಕ ಗ pu bu

ಪು ಬ ʨu ʥu

ಚ ಜ

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And again, in short –

k

- + =

ku

ಕ ಕ ɡ ɡu

ಗ ಗ p pu

ಪ ಪು b bu

ಬ ಬ ʨ ʨu

ಚ ಚ ʥ ʥu

ಜ ಜ

Get the idea?!

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pu

ಪು

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These are all the various ‘basic’ and ‘combo’ letters we’ve seen thus far

k kɐ ki ku

ಕ ಕ ಕ ಕ ɡ ɡɐ ɡi ɡu

ಗ ಗ ಗ ಗ p pɐ pi pu

ಪ ಪ ಪ ಪು b bɐ bi bu

ಬ ಬ ಬ ಬ ʨ ʨɐ ʨi ʨu

ಚ ಚ ಚ ಚ ʥ ʥɐ ʥi ʥu

ಜ ಜ ಜ ಜ

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These letters look similar –

ʨ ʨɐ ʨi ʨu

ಚ ಚ ಚ ಚ

ʥ ʥɐ ʥi ʥu

ಜ ಜ ಜ ಜ

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When two letters come one after the other

and the first one has no vowel sound,

that is, it is a letter,

then the second letter is written in a ‘mini’ version

below the first one

k ʨɐ kʨɐ

ಕ + ಚ = ಕಚ

p ɡi pɡi

ಪ + ಗ = ಪ

ʥ bu ʥbu

ಜ + ಬ = ಜ ು

b ʥ bʥ

ಬ + ಜ = ಬ

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Note that in such cases,

any vowel or other signs originally belonging to the second letter

are written attached to the first letter –

k ʨɐ kʨɐ

ಕ + ಚ = ಕಚ

p ɡi pɡi

ಪ + ಗ = ಪ

ʥ bu ʥbu

ಜ + ಬ = ಜ ು

b ʥ bʥ

ಬ + ಜ = ಬ

It’s as if the first and the second letter together

form a new ‘joint’ letter

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Here are the mini versions

of all the letters we’ve seen so far

When the second letter has no vowel –

+

k

=

k

ಕ ಕ ɡ ɡ

ಗ ಕ p p

ಪ ಕ b b

ಬ ಕ ು ʨ ʨ

ಚ ಕ ಚ ʥ ʥ

ಜ ಕ ಕ

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When the second letter has the vowel ɐ –

+

kɐ

=

kɐ

ಕ ಕ ɡɐ ɡɐ

ಗ ಕ pɐ pɐ

ಪ ಕ bɐ bɐ

ಬ ಕು ʨɐ ʨɐ

ಚ ಕಚ ʥɐ ʥɐ

ಜ ಕ

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When the second letter has the vowel i –

+

ki

=

ki

ಕ ಕ ɡi ɡi

ಗ ಕ pi pi

ಪ ಕ bi bi

ಬ ಕ ು ʨi ʨi

ಚ ಕ ಚ ʥi ʥi

ಜ ಕ

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And when the second letter has the vowel u –

+

ku

=

ku

ಕ ಕ ɡu ɡu

ಗ ಕ pu pu

ಪು ಕ bu bu

ಬ ಕ ು ʨu ʨu

ಚ ಕ ಚ ʥu ʥu

ಜ ಕ

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To sum up, the mini versions are special forms

that appear after a letter having

These mini versions can occur in the middle or at the end of a word,

but never at the beginning

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j

ಯ

This letter has a sound similar to

y in yo-yo

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r

ರ This letter has a sound similar to

r in Italian Roma

This is a ‘rolled’ /r/, as in Spanish or Italian

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l

ಲ This letter has a sound similar to

l in lad

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ʋ

ವ This letter has a sound similar to

v in victory

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j r

ಯ ರ

l ʋ

ಲ ವ

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This is how these letters look, when the ɐ sound is added

jɐ rɐ

ಯ ರ lɐ ʋɐ

ಲ ವ

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This is how these letters look, when the i sound is added

ji ri

ಯ ರ li ʋi

ಲ ವ

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ri

ರ

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This is how these letters look, when the u sound is added

ju ru

ಯ ರ lu ʋu

ಲ ವು

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ʋu

ವು

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These are all the various basic and combo letters

we’ve just seen

j jɐ ji ju

ಯ ಯ ಯ ಯ r rɐ ri ru

ರ ರ ರ ರ l lɐ li lu

ಲ ಲ ಲ ಲ ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu

ವ ವ ವ ವು

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These letters look very similar –

p pɐ pi pu

ಪ ಪ ಪ ಪು

ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu

ವ ವ ವ ವು

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These combo letters look somewhat similar –

jɐ ju

ಯ ಯ

Remember that ju has an extra curl at the end

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of the letters we’ve just seen


+

j

=

j

ಯ ಕ r r

ರ ಕ l l

ಲ ಕ ʋ ʋ

ವ ಕ

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+

jɐ

=

jɐ

ಯ ಕ rɐ rɐ

ರ ಕ lɐ lɐ

ಲ ಕ ʋɐ ʋɐ

ವ ಕ

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+

ji

=

ji

ಯ ಕ ri ri

ರ ಕ li li

ಲ ಕ ʋi ʋi

ವ ಕ

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+

ju

=

ju

ಯ ಕ ru ru

ರ ಕ lu lu

ಲ ಕ ʋu ʋu

ವು ಕ ಕ

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Note that most of the mini versions we’ve just seen

look quite different from their ‘full’ versions –

jɐ

ಯ ಕ rɐ

ರ ಕ lɐ

ಲ ಕ

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These mini versions look somewhat similar –

pɐ ʋɐ

ಕ ಕ

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ರ r likes being different from the rest

For instance, you would expect

r kɐ

ರ + ಕ

to look like

ರಕ

But it doesn’t!

Instead, it is written like this –

rkɐ

ಕಕ That is, ರ r takes on a special mini form

and jumps ahead of the next letter!

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Some more examples will make this a little clear

r ʨɐ rʨɐ

ರ + ಚ = ಚಕ

r pi rpi

ರ + ಪ = ಪಕ

r ju rju

ರ + ಯ = ಯ ಕ

r ʋ rʋ

ರ + ವ = ವಕ

r rɐ rrɐ

ರ + ರ = ರಕ

Don’t stress. This will become second nature as you learn more.

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These are some actual Kannada words

Can you read them?

ಬರ ಯ ಗ ಜರ ಗ

ವಗಕ ಚಚ ಕ ಗಬ ು

ಪಲ ವಯ

ಪುಕಲ ಚಕಪ

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Here are their pronunciations and meanings

biri juɡɐ ʥɐrʊɡu1

ಬರ ಯ ಗ ಜರ ಗ crack, burst eon, era move aside, shift

ʋɐrɡɐ ʨɐrʨu ɡɐbbu

ವಗಕ ಚಚ ಕ ಗಬ ು category church stink, stench

pɐlli ʋjəjɐ1

ಪಲ ವಯ lizard expenditure

pukkəlɐ1 ʨikkəppɐ1

ಪುಕಲ ಚಕಪ coward, sissy father’s younger brother

Some pronunciation keys above have been marked with a superscript 1

In these keys,

ə is a short or ‘lazily pronounced’ version of ɐ

and ʊ is a short or lazily pronounced version of u

For now, just assume

ə = ɐ

ʊ = u

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s

ಸ This letter has a sound similar to

s in sit

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ɕ

ಶ This letter has a sound similar to

sh in ship

Some people pronounce this letter similar to

s in sit

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ɦ

ಹ This letter has a sound similar to

h in hat

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s ɕ

ಸ ಶ ɦ

ಹ

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

sɐ ɕɐ ɦɐ

ಸ ಶ ಹ si ɕi ɦi

ಸ ಶ ಹ su ɕu ɦu

ಸ ಶ ಹ

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Notice the slightly different shapes of these letters

ɕi ɦi

ಶ ಹ

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we’ve just seen

s sɐ si su

ಸ ಸ ಸ ಸ ɕ ɕɐ ɕi ɕu

ಶ ಶ ಶ ಶ ɦ ɦɐ ɦi ɦu

ಹ ಹ ಹ ಹ

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These letters look somewhat similar –

p pɐ pi pu

ಪ ಪ ಪ ಪು

s sɐ si su

ಸ ಸ ಸ ಸ

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+

s

=

s

ಸ ಕ ɕ ɕ

ಶ ಕ ɦ ɦ

ಹ ಕ

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+

sɐ

=

sɐ

ಸ ಕ ɕɐ ɕɐ

ಶ ಕ ɦɐ ɦɐ

ಹ ಕ

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+

si

=

si

ಸ ಕ ɕi ɕi

ಶ ಕ ɦi ɦi

ಹ ಕ

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+

su

=

su

ಸ ಕ ɕu ɕu

ಶ ಕ ɦu ɦu

ಹ ಕ

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Some actual Kannada words with these letters we’ve just seen

ಸರ ಸಹ

ಶಶ ಹಬು

ಶಕ ಹ ಚ ಚ

ಸಲ ಹಸ

ಹಗಸ ಶ ಕಗಹ

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How many correct?

sɐri siɦi

ಸರ ಸಹ OK, all right sweet

ɕiɕu ɦɐbbɐ

ಶಶ ಹಬು infant festival

ɕɐkjɐ ɦuʨʨu

ಶಕ ಹ ಚ ಚ possible madness, mania

sʋɐlpɐ ɦrɐsʋɐ

ಸಲ ಹಸ a little, some short

ɦiɡɡɪsu1 ɕukrəɡrəɦɐ

ಹಗಸ ಶ ಕಗಹ expand, enlarge Venus (planet)

1 ɪ is a short or lazily pronounced version of i

For now, just assume ɪ = i

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n

ನ This letter has a sound similar to’

n in tenth

To pronounce this letter, the tip of your tongue

touches the back of your front teeth

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ಮ This letter has a sound similar to

m in mother

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These are the basic letters

we’ve just seen

n m

ನ ಮ

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This is how these basic letters are modified

to make the combo letters for ɐ, i and u

nɐ mɐ

ನ ಮ ni mi

ನ ಮ nu mu

ನ ಮ

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we’ve just seen

n nɐ ni nu

ನ ನ ನ ನ m mɐ mi mu

ಮ ಮ ಮ ಮ

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These sets of letters look similar –

s sɐ si su

ಸ ಸ ಸ ಸ n nɐ ni nu

ನ ನ ನ ನ

p pɐ pi pu

ಪ ಪ ಪ ಪು ʋ ʋɐ ʋi ʋu

ವ ವ ವ ವು m mɐ mi mu

ಮ ಮ ಮ ಮ

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+

n

=

n

ನ ಕ m m

ಮ ಕ


+

nɐ

=

nɐ

ನ ಕ ಕ mɐ mɐ

ಮ ಕ

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+

ni

=

ni

ನ ಕ ಕ mi mi

ಮ ಕ


+

nu

=

nu

ನ ಕ ಕ mu mu

ಮ ಕ

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Note that most of the mini versions we’ve just seen

look quite different from their ‘full’ versions –

nɐ

ನ ಕ mɐ

ಮ ಕ

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Some actual Kannada words with these letters we’ve just seen

ಮಗನ ಚಮಕ

ಚನ ಬಹ

ಜನ ಮ ಗಲ

ಮನಸ ಮಕರ

ಚಕಮ ಮ ನ ಗ

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Here’s how you pronounce them, and what they mean

mɐɡənu ʨɐrmɐ

ಮಗನ ಚಮಕ son skin

ʨinnu brɐɦmɐ

ಚನ ಬಹ gold Brahma, a Hindu god

ʥɐnmɐ muɡɡəlu

ಜನ ಮ ಗಲ birth mould, fungus

mɐnnɪsu miksəru

ಮನಸ ಮಕರ forgive, pardon mixer, blender

ʨikkəmmɐ munnʊɡɡu

ಚಕಮ ಮ ನ ಗ father’s younger brother’s wife go forward, proceed

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Remember the mini version rule? Let’s extend it slightly.

When two or more letters come one after the other

and all before the last have no vowel sound,

that is, they are all letters,

then all letters after the first one

are written in their respective ‘mini’ versions

below the first one

l k jɐ lkjɐ

ಲ + ಕ + ಯ = ಲ

ɕ ʨ ʋi ɕʨʋi

ಶ + ಚ + ವ = ಶಚ

m b ru mbru

ಮ + ಬ + ರ = ಮ ು

m p s mps

ಮ + ಪ + ಸ = ಮ

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Again, remember that

any vowel or other signs originally belonging to the last letter

are written attached to the first letter –

l k jɐ lkjɐ

ಲ + ಕ + ಯ = ಲ

ɕ ʨ ʋi ɕʨʋi

ಶ + ಚ + ವ = ಶಚ

m b ru mbru

ಮ + ಬ + ರ = ಮ ು

m p s mps

ಮ + ಪ + ಸ = ಮ

So, all these letters in question together

form a new ‘joint’ letter

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ರ r, as expected, decides to rebel

Remember that

r kɐ rkɐ

ರ + ಕ = ಕಕ

Let’s extend this rule a bit

r k jɐ rkjɐ

ರ + ಕ + ಯ = ಕಕ

That is, ರ r takes on its special mini form

and jumps ahead of all the letters

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One thing to note

Since

k rɐ krɐ

ಕ + ರ = ಕ

therefore

k r jɐ krjɐ

ಕ + ರ + ಯ = ಕ

So, ರ r takes on its special mini form

only when it is the first letter of such a no-vowel sequence

like in the example we saw on the previous page –

r k jɐ rkjɐ

ರ + ಕ + ಯ = ಕಕ

The good news is, such strings of letters are quite rare in Kannada

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Here’s a new vowel, along with its sign

e


e in pen

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Now look at these combo letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus the e vowel

ke ɡe

ಕ ಗ pe be

ಪ ಬ ʨe ʥe

ಚ ಜ je re

ಯ ರ

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And some more combo letters, with this new vowel

le ʋe

ಲ ವ se ɕe

ಸ ಶ ɦe

ಹ ne me

ನ ಮ

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Here’s a few words with our new vowel

ಮನ ಕ ರ

ಬ ಲ ಬಗ

ಲ ಕ ಸಪ

ಹ ಜ ಹ ಸರ

ಯಮನ ಮಚ ಚಗ

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And here’s how you say them, and what they mean

mɐne kere

ಮನ ಕ ರ house, home lake

bele bɐɡɡe

ಬ ಲ ಬಗ price, value about, concerning

lekkɐ sippe

ಲ ಕ ಸಪ calculation, accounts peel, husk

ɦeʥʥe ɦesəru

ಹ ಜ ಹ ಸರ step, pace name

jemen meʨʨʊɡe

ಯಮನ ಮಚ ಚಗ Yemen, an Arab country praise

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Here’s another vowel, along with its sign

o


o in or

but shorter in length

This sign looks like

+ ಕ

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Now look at these combo letters,

each having the sound of a consonant plus the o vowel

ko ɡo

ಕ ಗ po bo

ಪೊ ಬ ʨo ʥo

ಚ ಜ jo ro

ಯೊ ರ

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And some more combo letters, with this new vowel

lo ʋo

ಲ ವೊ so ɕo

ಸ ಶ ɦo

ಹ no mo

ನ ಮೊ

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Note that for j ಯ,

the right-most curl is removed

before the o vowel is added

j o jo

ಯ - + = ಯೊ

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And some new words with our new vowel

ಸ ಸ ನ ರ

ಕ ಚ ಚ ಗ ಜ

ಸ ಪು ಹ ರಗ

ಪೊಗರ ಗ ಬುರ

ಶವಮೊಗ ಮನವೊಲಸ

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Here are their pronunciations and meanings

sose nore

ಸ ಸ ನ ರ daughter-in-law foam, froth

koʨʨe ɡoʥʥu

ಕ ಚ ಚ ಗ ಜ muck thick sauce

soppu ɦorəɡe

ಸ ಪು ಹ ರಗ green vegetables outside

poɡəru ɡobbərɐ

ಪೊಗರ ಗ ಬುರ arrogance manure

ɕiʋəmoɡɡɐ mɐnəʋolisu

ಶವಮೊಗ ಮನವೊಲಸ Shimoga, a town in Karnataka persuade, win over

That’s all for now.

See you in the next part!

End of Part One

Typeset in Segoe UI (English & IPA) and Vagisha (Kannada)

For more information on the Kannada script and its history –

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kannada.htm

References:

Baraha Antarajāla Nighanṭu

http://baraha.com/kannada/index.php

Glosbe Kannada Hindi Dictionary

http://glosbe.com/kn/hi/

Khandbahale, Sunil. Khandbahale.com

http://www.khandbahale.com/kannada

Spencer, Harold. A Kanarese Grammar

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/kannada/

Kannada Wiktionary

http://kn.wiktionary.org

v2013-01-05

©2012 Arvind Iyengar. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kannada.htm

http://baraha.com/kannada/index.php

http://glosbe.com/kn/hi/

http://www.khandbahale.com/kannada

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/kannada/

http://kn.wiktionary.org/

indopersicaen-knscriptpart01

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