Learn to READ Malayalam - using vinyl ("LP" record) covers and such movie-based resources

The next one is very similar (ട characer i.e. T used as T) but just a doubling as ട്ട :

അട്ടിമറി / attimaRi / அட்டிமறி / अट्टीमरि

However, they can use the same character sometimes for "D", simply to confuse people and I'm sure it comes from the Thamizh roots of Malayalam :

അടിമക്കച്ചവടം

This should strictly read : atimakkachchavatam / அடிமக்கச்சவடம் / अटिमककच्चवटम

However, look at the English rendering in the vinyl, it reads "adimakkachchavadam" (slave trade)!

So, please BEWARE of such usage!

That's all

Now, moving on to the next character, T(h)a, the "O" shaped Hindi / Malayalam letter :
ഠ

There is one vinyl that uses the character (here again one may get baffled as to why they use "D" in English) :

ആദ്യപാഠം / AdhyapAt(h)am / ஆத்யபாடம் / आद्यपाठम (First lesson)

The third character, ഡ, is the OFFICIAL "D"!

It does get used that way frequently as well.

Example : Please see the vinyl below, "dAliyA pookkaL"

ഡാലിയാ പൂക്കൾ / டாலியா பூக்கள் / डालिया पूक्कल

The fourth character D(h)a, ഢ, does not find that much usage, but one will come across every now and then!

ആരൂഢമ് / Arood(h)am / ஆரூடம் / आरूढम

(Please note that the vinyl uses old form of 'roo' ; also, google didn't let me type the 'd(h)am properly)

Now, for ണ, we have a special treat - vinyl cover of the IR album that had 'oru nAL unnOdu oru nAL's Malayalam version (oru nAL ullAsaththiru nAL)

ആറുമണികൂർ / ARu maNikkoor / ஆறு மணிக்கூர் / आरु मणिक्कूर

Quiz for T-series :

1. ഡോ. കെ.എം. ചെറിയാൻ

2. കോട്ടയം

3. ചാലക്കുടി

4. മഴവിൽക്കാവടി

5. ഡെയ്സി

6. എന്നെന്നും കണ്ണേട്ടൻറെ

7. കിരീടം

8. ടോക്കിയോ

9. കൂടെവിടെ

10. പണം

(movie names, places, one person, one thing)

1. dO. ke. em. cheriyan (dO is for doctor?)
2. kOttayam
3. chaalakkudi
4. mazhavilkkaavadi
5. deisy
6. eNNenum kannettante (is it not എന്നെനും കന്നെട്ടെന്റെ ? When I type eNNenum kannettante I get എന്നെനും കന്നെട്ടെന്റെ. So what is the last letter in കണ്ണേട്ടൻറെ. It is 're' right? or is it a different word, confused )
7. kireedam
8. tOkkiyO (tokyo)
9. kootevite (or is it koodevide?. If koodevide why they have used 'ta' instead of 'da'? കൂടെവിടെ)

V_S wrote:why they have used 'ta' instead of 'da'?

Please look at my post above for the vinyl "adimakkachchavadam" - it's one of those quirky stuff.

Since Malayalam is rooted in Thamizh, such use of "ta" as "da" can be observed, even though there's a character for "da"

(Similarly, though there is a "ga" / "ha", Malayalam uses "ka" for magan / son - മകൻ - though it is not pronounced as "makan")

Thanks app ji for the clarification. I missed reading the vinyl post.

OK, solution to the quiz (as usual, nice job V_Sji!):

1. ഡോ. കെ.എം. ചെറിയാൻ - dO. K.M.CheriyAn (Dr K M Cheriyan) / டோ. கெ.எம்.செறியான் / डो के एम् चेरियाँ

2. കോട്ടയം - kOttayam / கோட்டயம் / कोट्टयम

3. ചാലക്കുടി -chAlakkuti (Chalakkudy) / சாலக்குடி / चालक्कुटी

4. മഴവിൽക്കാവടി - mazhavillkAvati (mazhavilkkAvadi) / மழவில்க்காவடி / मलविल्क्कावटी

5. ഡെയ്സി - deysi (Daisy) / டெய்ஸி / डेयसी

6. എന്നെന്നും കണ്ണേട്ടൻറെ - ennennum kaNNEttanRe (ennennum kaNNEttande) / என்னென்னும் கண்ணேட்டன்டெ / एन्नेन्नुम कणणेटटनडे

7. കിരീടം - kireetam (kireedam) / கிரீடம் / किरीटम

8. ടോക്കിയോ - tOkkiyO (Tokyo) / டோக்கியோ / टोक्कियो

9. കൂടെവിടെ -kootevite (koodevide) / கூடெவிடெ / कूटेविटे

10. പണം - paNam (money) / பணம் / पणम

We have three more groups of consonants to go

Before introducing the next group, let me quickly do a recap of all the letters we have learnt so far :

Vowels :

അ ആ ഇ ഈ ഉ ഊ ഋ എ ഏ ഐ ഒ ഓ ഔ അം അ:

Consonants, in groups, with അ sound added to them for simplicity:

K series : ക ഖ ഗ ഘ ങ

CH series : ച ഛ ജ ഝ ഞ

T series : ട ഠ ഡ ഢ ണ

We've also covered the combo's of the above consonants with all the vowels!

Also, we've covered the "doubing" of the consonants.

Now, let's move on to the FOURTH set of consonants, the TH series

Lesson 9 Fourth group of consonants, the TH series

Those familiar with either Thamizh or Hindhee should be familiar with this series as both the names of those languages feature letters from this group

Thamizh's first letter is "tha" (த) and Hindhee's last letter is "dhee" (दी)

As usual, Thamizh has only one TH which is used for all four sounds used by Sanskrit and its derivatives (th / thh / dh / dhh). Malayalam, since is a mish-mash of Thamizh & Sanskrit, one should not be surprised if it has the latter for "TH" but read it sometimes as "DH" I'll give examples as it occurs in course of time.

First, let's look at the Malayalam characters themselves :

ത - tha / த / त

ഥ - thha / no Thamizh equivalent / थ (Please look at the Malayalam character which is exactly same as the 'ma / ம' in Thamizh, take care not to get fooled by the appearance )

ദ - dha / no Thamizh equivalent / द (This looks like the Greek "beta" character )

ധ -dhha / no Thamizh equivalent / ध (Here again, the Malayalam character is a look-alike of the Thamizh 'ya / ய'. So, please beware...)

ന - na / unusual, rather unique, case of this being the equivalent for Two Thamizh characters, ந & ன / न.

Some words to practice these characters :

തമിഴ്നാട് - ThamizhnAtu / தமிழ்நாடு / तमिलनाटु (Tamilnadu)

കഥ തുടരുന്നു - kathha thudarunnu / கத துடருன்னு / (Movie - kadha thudarunnu)

ദക്ഷിണ റെയിൽവേ -dhakshiNa ReyilvE / தக்ஷிண றெயில்வே / दक्षिण रेयीलवे (Southern Railways)

ധനം -dhhanam / தனம் / धनं (riches)

നന്ദി വീണ്ടും വരിക - nanni veeNdum varika / நன்னி வீண்டும் வரிக / नन्नी वीणदुम वरिक (thanks come again)

One may also notice some derivatives / doublings of the above set of consonants in these words and I had "strategically" placed them for quick-learning

Let's look at the combos of these consonants with all vowels :

th - ത് ത താ തി തീ തു തൂ തൃ തെ തേ തൈ തൊ തോ തൗ തം

thh - ഥ് ഥ ഥാ ഥി ഥീ ഥു ഥൂ thhru ഥെ ഥേ ഥൈ ഥൊ ഥോ ഥൗ ഥം

dh - ദ് ദ ദാ ദി ദീ ദു ദൂ ദൃ ദെ ദേ ദൈ ദൊ ദോ ദൗ ദം

dhh - ധ് ധ ധാ ധി ധീ ധു ധൂ ധൃ ധെ ധേ ധൈ ധൊ ധോ ധൗ ധം

n - ന് ന നാ നി നീ നു നൂ നൃ നെ നേ നൈ നൊ നോ നൗ നം

Doubling of the consonants:

ത്ത (ththa) and ന്ന (nna) are very common in use. The others are not so common (and cannot be produced in google transliterate easily )

Let me post a variety of vinyl pics that feature these characters today...and follow up with a quiz tomorrow

Couple of vinyls for the first letter...

തകര / thakara / தகர / तकर



തത്തമ്മേ പൂച്ച പൂച്ച / thaththammE poochcha poochcha / தத்தம்மே பூச்ச பூச்ச / तत्तम्मे पूच्च पूच्च (hey parrot, cat cat!)

Now, the second letter of this group typically not seen in the beginning of the word...

ശപഥം / shapathham / சபதம் / शपथम

Please note that the English transliteration on the vinyl uses "dh", which is one of those quirky things...

ദീപം / dheepam / தீபம் / दीपं (lamp)



Most of the times, this gets translated into English as "deepam" but pronounced "dheepam" - another quirky thing with the "TH/DH" series. Same happens with Hindi too, one has to type t / d and not th/dh to get the corresponding Hindi characters (त द) in google transliteration

An unusual case of extended last syllable in Malayalam

ധന്യാ / dhhanyA / தன்யா / धन्या

(It is typically ധന്യ, here we see an additional thuNaikkAl in the vinyl...the producer could have been Thamizh or added it for some sentimental purpose)

Vinyl covers featuring "n" or derivatives:

ആനപ്പാച്ചൻ / AnappAchchan / ஆனப்பாச்சன் / आनप्पाच्चन



നീലക്കടമ്പ് / neelakkadambu / நீலக்கடம்பு / नीलक्कड़म्बु



ചെന്നായ് വളര്ത്തിയ കുട്ടി / chennAy vaLarththiya kutti / செந்நாய் வளர்த்திய குட்டி/ चेन्नाय वलर्त्तिय कुट्टी

TH series QUIZ:

1. തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ

2. ഭരതം

3. കഥ പറയുമ്പോൾ

4. മിഥുനം

5. ദൈവം ഉണ്ടോ?

6. അഥർവ്വം

7. ദശരഥം

8. തിരുവനന്തപുരം

9. പച്ചക്കുതിര

10. നെടുമുടി വേണു

(Mostly movie names, a place, one person and one highly-debated topic)

തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ - thoovaanaththumbigaL
ഭരതം - bharatham
കഥ പറയുമ്പോൾ - katha parayumpoL
മിഥുനം - mithunam
ദൈവം ഉണ്ടോ? - deivam undO?
അഥർവ്വം - atharavam
ദശരഥം - dasharatham
തിരുവനന്തപുരം - thiruvanantapuram
പച്ചക്കുതിര - pachchakkutira
നെടുമുടി വേണു - nedumudi vENu

Nice job, V_Sji!



Here are the answers:

1. തൂവാനത്തുമ്പികൾ : தூவானத்தும்பிகள் / तूवानत्तुम्बिकल / thoovAnaththumbikaL

2. ഭരതം : பரதம் / भरतम / bharatham (This is a trick question as the first character, bh - ഭ - is a look-alike of "dh" - ദ)

3. കഥ പറയുമ്പോൾ : கத பறயும்போள் / कथ परयुम्पोल / kathha paRayumpOL

4. മിഥുനം - மிதுனம் / मिथुनम / mithhunam

5. ദൈവം ഉണ്ടോ? - தைவம் உண்டோ? / दैवं उणडो / dhaivam uNdO? (Is there a God?)

6. അഥർവ്വം -அதர்வ்வம்/ अथर्व्वम / athharvvam

7. ദശരഥം -தஷரதம் / दशरथम / dhasharathham

8. തിരുവനന്തപുരം - திருவனந்தபுரம் / तिरुवनंतपुरम / thiruvananthapuram

9. പച്ചക്കുതിര - பச்சக்குதிர / पच्चक्कुतिर / pachchakkuthira

10. നെടുമുടി വേണു - நெடுமுடி வேணு / नेडुमुडि वेणु / nedumudi vENu

We have only two more groups of consonants left!

Before we take up one of them, let us recap all the letters that we've learnt so far :

Vowels:

അ ആ ഇ ഈ ഉ ഊ ഋ എ ഏ ഐ ഒ ഓ ഔ അം

Consonants in four groups so far (അ added below, for ease of reading) :

ka series : ക ഖ ഗ ഘ ങ

cha series: ച ഛ ജ ഝ ഞ

ta series : ട ഠ ഡ ഢ ണ

tha series : ത ഥ ദ ധ ന

We have the 'pa' series (remember Bhimsingh / MSV-TKR) and the Misc series of consonants left

Will have the 'pa' series later today!

Lesson 10 - Fifth group of consonants - the 'P' series

As in the case of all the previous four groups, this has five consonants - all "lips meeting" type I've added the first vowel to the consonants and thus removed the "half-moon-mark" on top of them

പ - pa / ப / प

ഫ - pha (also fa) / ஃப / फ

ബ - ba / no Thamizh equivalent / ब /

ഭ - bha / no Thamizh equivalent / भ /

മ - ma / ம / म

To illustrate the letters (and help practice them), here is a set of words highlighting each of the above :

പച്ച - pachcha / பச்ச / पच्च

ഫാസിൽ - fAzil / ஃபாஸில் / फ़ाज़िल

ബംഗളൂർ (ബെംഗളൂരു) - bangaloor (bengalooru) / பங்களூர் (பெங்களூரு) / बंगलूर (बेंगलूरू)

ഭാരതപ്പുഴ - bhArathappuzha / பாரதப்புழ / भारतप्पुल

മലയാളം - malayALam / மலயாளம் / मलयालम

Please note that there are no additional "." symbols necessary to convert ph to f, as in the case of Hindi

Let us look at the vowel-added-derivatives & doubling of this group of consonants :

Addition of consonants :

p -പ് പ പാ പി പീ പു പൂ pru പെ പേ പൈ പൊ പോ പൗ പം

f / ph -ഫ് ഫ ഫാ ഫി ഫീ ഫു ഫൂ fru ഫെ ഫേ ഫൈ ഫൊ ഫോ ഫൗ ഫം

b -ബ് ബ ബാ ബി ബീ ബു ബൂ bru ബെ ബേ ബൈ ബൊ ബോ ബൗ ബം

bh -ഭ് ഭ ഭാ ഭി ഭീ ഭു ഭൂ bhru ഭെ ഭേ ഭൈ ഭൊ ഭോ ഭൗ ഭം

m - മ് മ മാ മി മീ മു മൂ മൃ മെ മേ മൈ മൊ മോ മൗ മം

Doublings :

ppa - പ്പ (on top)

ffa - no combo, nothing special, write it twice

bba - ബ്ബ (on top)

bhbha - no combo, nothing special, write it twice

mma - മ്മ (on the side)