Language/Malayalam/Grammar/Vowel-Markers
As a Malayalam language teacher with more than 20 years of experience, I am delighted to welcome you to the Introduction to Malayalam Script Course, which is part of the Complete 0 to A1 Malayalam Course. In this lesson, we will delve into vowel markers, which play a critical role in Malayalam script. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to recognize, identify and write vowel markers.
What are Vowel Markers?
The Malayalam Script consists of 54 letters in total, and out of these, 14 are vowels. Unlike English and other Western languages, Malayalam vowels do not always stand alone but are often combined with consonants to form syllables. Vowel markers are small symbols that indicate the vowels' presence and location within the syllable. The vowel markers in Malayalam script take three different shapes and positions, which we will cover in this lesson.
Independent Vowels
The first type of vowels in Malayalam script is called independent vowels. These are vowels that do not need any consonant to form a syllable. The independent vowels in Malayalam are:
| Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| അ | a | as in "cat" |
| ആ | aa | as in "father" |
| ഇ | i | as in "hit" |
| ഈ | ee | as in "meet" |
| ഉ | u | as in "put" |
| ഊ | uu | as in "toot" |
| ഋ | ri | as in "tree" and "three" |
| എ | e | as in "pen" |
| ഏ | ee | as in "meet" |
| ഐ | ai | as in "kite" |
| ഒ | o | as in "cot" |
| ഓ | oo | as in "loot" |
| ഔ | au | as in "out" |
| അം | aṁ | as in "lamp" |
| അഃ | ah | as in "hut" |
It is important to memorize these vowel markers, their shapes, and their corresponding sounds to fluently read and write Malayalam.
Dependent Vowels
Dependent vowels in Malayalam are vowels that need to be attached to consonants to form a syllable. The dependent vowels in Malayalam are:
| Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ി | i | as in "hit" |
| ീ | ee | as in "meet" |
| ഉ | u | as in "put" |
| ു | uu | as in "toot" |
| റി | ri | as in "tree" and "three" |
| എ | e | as in "pen" |
| െ | ee | as in "meet" |
| ൈ | ai | as in "kite" |
| ഒ | o | as in "cot" |
| ോ | oo | as in "loot" |
| ൗ | au | as in "out" |
Note that some dependent vowels have the same shape as the independent vowels, but they carry a different meaning when combined with a consonant.
Consonant + Vowel Combinations
The third type of vowel in Malayalam is a consonant + vowel combination. When consonants and vowels come together, they form a unique unit called a "Gana," and there are 18 Ganams in Malayalam. Each Gana is formed by combining a consonant with a vowel marker, giving a different sound to the syllable.
For example, the Gana formed by combining the consonant "കാ" (ka) with the vowel marker "അ" (a) yields the sound "ക" (ka). Similarly, the Gana formed by combining the consonant "തി" (ti) with the vowel marker "ഉ" (u) yields the sound "തു" (tu).
Here is a table showing some examples of consonant + vowel combinations:
| Malayalam | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ക + അ | ka | as in "ask" |
| ഗ + ഇ | gi | as in "big" |
| ച + ഊ | choo | as in "boot" |
| ജ + ഏ | je | as in "pen" |
| ണ + ഓ | noo | as in "brood" |
| പ + അം | pang | as in "song" |
Tips for Learning Vowel Markers
Learning vowel markers in Malayalam script may seem daunting at first, but it is not as challenging as it appears. Here are some tips to help you master the skill:
- Practice, Practice, Practice: The key to success is in practice. Regularly read and write Malayalam to strengthen your skills.
- Pay Attention to Pronunciation: The shape of vowel markers may change depending on the syllable, but its sound remains constant. So, when you learn a vowel marker shape, remember its pronunciation.
- Learn the Basic Consonants First: Before tackling vowel markers, it's essential to master the basic consonants and their transliteration.
- Use Flashcards: Use flashcards to help memorize the different vowel markers and their sounds.
In conclusion, Vowel Markers play, an essential role in Malayalam Script. As you practice and learn more, understanding the vowel markers and their pronunciations will become more natural. Keep up the hard work, and you will become a confident Malayalam script reader and writer in no time!