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

Since ഋ - ri / ru - is included as a vowel (I still don't know for what, can never reconcile to this letter), there has to be combo of this "vowel" with consonants as well.

From our current group, I could get google transliteration tool to add this vowel to only two For others, it didn't like my English input it appears.

Anyways, here are the ones possible for me :

ക്‍ + ഋ = കൃ The lamp like symbol on the right serves for the combination. This combo sounds as "kru" / க்ரு / कृ

ഗ് + ഋ = ഗൃ gru / गृ

Those who are familiar with Hindi can possibly catch this combo much easier

രാമകൃഷ്ണാ (rAmakrushnA - Ramakrishna)
ഗൃഹം (gruham - home)

are words I can think of, to illustrate...

The rest of the vowel combinations for consonants (എ ഏ ഐ ഒ ഓ ഔ) are all much easier and simpler for people who know Thamizh. Even for others, it's a question of learning a few more "prefix" "suffix" kind of symbols.

Let me illustrate combining all these with ക്.

ക് + എ = കെ (ke, exactly same as Thamizh கெ , add the oththa suzhikkombu on the left)

ക് + ഏ = കേ (kE, exactly same as Thamizh கே, add the retta suzhikkombu on the left)

ക് + ഐ = കൈ (kai, double the oththa suzhikkombu on the left, somewhat similar to Thamizh but there the two oththa suzhikkombus get combined into a new symbol கை)

ക് + ഒ = കൊ (ko, again exactly same as Thamizh, put oththa suzhikkombu on LHS and thuNaikkAl on RHS, கொ)

ക് + ഓ = കോ (kO, same as Thamizh, retta suzhikkombu on LHS and thuNaikkAl on RHS, கோ)

ക് + ഔ = കൗ (കൌ also acceptable, kau, this one is easier than Thamizh as the oththa suzhikkombu on LHS is not necessary. Also, the "superscript" symbol is same as for the vowel and we're quite familiar with that. Not as confusing as Thamizh - கௌ, that can be read either as kau or keLa )

Look at the other letters of this group too:

ഖെ , ഖേ, ഖൈ , ഖൊ , ഖോ, ഖൗ (khe, khE, khai, kho, khO, khau)

ഗെ , ഗേ , ഗൈ , ഗൊ , ഗോ , ഗൗ (ge, gE, gai, go, gO, gau)

ഘെ , ഘേ , ഘൈ , ഘൊ , ഘോ , ഘൗ (ghe, ghE, ghai, gho, ghO, ghau)

ങെ , ങേ , ങൈ , ങൊ , ങോ , ങൗ (nge, ngE, ngai, ngo, ngO, ngau)

I think it's sufficient if we practice just these characters

(No words necessary to type / write)

I guess we're done familiarising with the first group of 5 consonants.

I guess the letters can be practiced keying in (or writing) for a day or two.

I'll post a quiz on Wednesday

I'll also try to get some vinyl cover pics tomorrow...

ok, here are some vinyl covers to illustrate the ക ഖ ഗ ഘ ങ group's derivatives :

ഗുരുവായൂര് കേശവൻ (Guruvayoor Keshavan / குருவாயூர் கேசவன் / गुरुवायूर केशवन)

Look at the way "gu" is written on the vinyl (old style) and compare with the google transliteration style with a "single bulbed walking stick"

Also, note the kE in kEshavan being exactly like Thamizh



Now, to illustrate the longer "oo" sound with double bulbed hook :

കൂടും തേടി (koodum thEdi / கூடும் தேடி / कूडुम तेडि  )

Few more :

ചില്ല് കൊട്ടാരം (chillu kottAram / சில்லு கொட்டாரம் / चिल्लु कोटटारम)



കോളേജ് ബ്യൂട്ടി (college beauty / கோளேஜ் ப்யூட்டி/ कोलेज ब्यूट्टी)



കിളിക്കൊഞ്ചൽ (kiLikkonchal / கிளிக்கொஞ்சல்/ किलिक्कोंचल)

You may notice the application of "o" sound to a doubled consonant here (kko)

ok. let's have a new quiz featuring the following consonants and corresponding derivatives :

ക്‍ , ക, കാ, കി, കീ, കു, കൂ, കൃ, കെ, കേ , കൈ, കൊ , കോ, കൗ , കം

ഖ്, ഖ, ഖാ, ഖി, ഖീ, ഖു, ഖൂ, --, ഖെ, ഖേ , ഖൈ, ഖൊ , ഖോ , ഖൗ , ഖം

ഗ് , ഗ, ഗാ, ഗി, ഗീ , ഗു , ഗൂ, ഗൃ , ഗെ , ഗേ , ഗൈ ,ഗൊ , ഗോ , ഗൗ , ഗം

ഘ് , ഘ, ഘാ,ഘി , ഘീ , ഘു , ഘൂ , --,ഘെ , ഘേ , ഘൈ , ഘൊ , ഘോ , ഘൗ , ഘം

ങ് , ങ , ങാ , ങി , ങീ , ങു , ങൂ , --, ങെ , ങേ , ങൈ , ങൊ , ങോ , ങൗ , ങം

(These are in this order : ik, ka, kA, ki, kee, ku, koo, kru, ke, kE, kai, ko, kO, kau, kam...For some letters, the ഋ combo could not be generated in google )

Quiz time :

1. കോഴിക്കോട്

2. കോട്ടയം

3. പാലക്കാട്

4. ഗുരുവായൂര്

5. കണ്ണൂര്

6. സംഘം

7. കൈതപ്രം

8. ഗോപിക

9. ഗണേഷ്കുമാർ

10. നഖക്ഷതങ്ങൾ

(Clue : five geographical locations, one Mammootty movie, one KSC-NA movie, one actor recently in news, one chEra nAttu actress, one lyricist)

Nice job, V_Sji!

Let me post the answers :

1. കോഴിക്കോട് - கோழிக்கோடு / कोलिक्कोड़ / kOzhikkOde (Kozhikkode, used to be Calicut, first litter-free city of India)

2. കോട്ടയം - கோட்டயம் / कोट्टयम / kOttayam (Kottayam, city of Malayala Manorama HQ)

3. പാലക്കാട് - பாலக்காடு / पालक्काट / pAlakkAt (Palakkad, used to be Palghat, 30 miles from Coimbatore)

4. ഗുരുവായൂര് - குருவாயூர்/ गुरुवायूर / guruvAyoor (Guruvayur, location of the famous temple)

5. കണ്ണൂര് - கண்ணூர் / कणणूर / kaNNoor (Kannur, used to be Cannanore, city)

6. സംഘം - ஸங்கம் / संघम / sangham (Mammootty movie directed by Joshy)

7. കൈതപ്രം -கைதப்ரம் / कैतप्रम / kaidhapram (Kaidhapram Damodaran, poet / lyricist / singer / MD / script writer...)

8. ഗോപിക - கோபிக / गोपिक / gOpika (Gopika, actress who did autograph with "Cheran")

9. ഗണേഷ്കുമാർ - கணேஷ்குமார் / गणेशकुमार / ganEsh kumAr (Ganesh Kumar, the actor-minister recently on news)

10. നഖക്ഷതങ്ങൾ - நகக்ஷதங்ஙள் / नखक्षतन्ग्गल / nakhakshathangngaL (movie, manjaL prasAdavum got NA for KSC, Monika got NA)

ok, so far we've covered all the vowels & 5 consonants. In addition, we also did the general rules w.r.t vowel + consonant combinations, including the "doubling" of consonants.

Following are covered :

Vowels :

അ ആ ഇ ഈ ഉ ഊ ഋ എ ഏ ഐ ഒ ഓ ഔ അം അ :

Five consonants :

ക് ഖ് ഗ് ഘ് ങ്

Combos as illustrated by one consonant ക് (others are similar) :

ക കാ കി കീ കു കൂ കൃ കെ കേ കൈ കൊ കോ കൗ കം

ക്ക ക്കാ ...

Time to get to know the next set of consonants

Lesson 7 Second group of consonants

ച് -ച -cha - ச -च

ഛ് -ഛ -chha - No Thamizh equivalent -छ

ജ് - ജ -ja - ஜ (Not exactly Thamizh, vadamozhi ezhuththu) - ज

ഝ് - ഝ -jha -No Thamizh equivalent - झ

ഞ് - ഞ -gna (jna) -ஞ - ञ

Much similar to the 'ka' series, these can be called 'cha' series. (Wait a minute, there will also be more sa / sha business coming later on! So, this should be strictly referred as "cha" and not "sa")

Very similar to the corresponding group in Hindi. Likewise, Thamizh does not have its own characters except for the first and the last in this group. A later-day addition is available for 'ja' but it's not part of the original language.

Some words to familiarize with these letters :

ചന്ദ്രിക - chandrika - சந்த்ரிக - चंद्रिक (Moon, used to be a popular brand of soap, I always look at that brand with gratitude because a couple from that family took me in their car to the hospital after my worst accident)

ഛായാഗ്രഹണം - chhAyAgrahaNam - சாயாக்ரஹணம் - छायाग्रहणं (Please note that I took the liberty to use an extended "A" sound here...the word means photography / cinematography, you'll see this word in movie titles...original job of Balu Mahendra)

ജലദോഷം - jaladhOsham - ஜலதோஷம் - जलदोषम (Cold)

ഝലം നദി - jhalam nadhi - ஜலம் நதி - झलम नदी (river in Punjab, known as jhelum river)

ഞങ്ങൾ -gnangngaL - ஞங்ஙள் - difficult to type in Hindi (Means "us" or "we")

Some vinyl covers to familiarize with ച group of consonants / combo's :

The famous Lakshmi film ചട്ടക്കാരി / chattakkAri / சட்டக்காரி / चट्टक्कारि

(Hindi Julie, Thamizh O mAnE mAnE)



Another Lakshmi film ചട്ടമ്പി കല്ല്യാണി / chattambi kallyANi  / சட்டம்பி கல்ல்யாணி / चट्टम्बी कल्ल्याणि



One more, ചങ്ങാടം / changngAtam / சங்ஙாடம்



And a Mammooty film that means sugary kiss : ചക്കരയുമ്മ / chakkarayumma / சக்கரயும்ம / चक्करयुम्म

We have already gone through the consonant + vowel combination business with the "ka" group. So, will not irritate walking through those steps allover again.

Let me just post how they look like, here below...and can be used for personal exercise either in a notebook or google transliteration...will try to get some more vinyl covers for such uyirmey letters this week and also give a quiz in a couple of days

ച് ഛ് ജ് ഝ് ഞ് (ch / chh / j / jh / nj)

when combined with

അ ആ ഇ ഈ ഉ ഊ ഋ എ ഏ ഐ ഒ ഓ ഔ അം (vowels)

produces the following respectively (given in 5 rows, some are unable to reproduce in google so left them in English ) :

ച ചാ ചി ചീ ചു ചൂ chru ചെ ചേ ചൈ ചൊ ചോ ചൗ ചം


ഛ ഛാ ഛി ഛീ ഛു ഛൂ chhru ഛെ ഛേ ഛൈ ഛൊ ഛോ ഛൗ ഛം


ജ ജാ ജി ജീ ജു ജൂ jru ജെ ജേ ജൈ ജൊ ജോ ജൗ ജം



ഝ ഝാ ഝി ഝീ ഝു ഝൂ jhru ഝെ ഝേ ഝൈ ഝൊ ഝോ ഝൗ ഝം



ഞ ഞാ ഞി ഞീ ഞു ഞൂ njru ഞെ ഞേ ഞൈ ഞൊ ഞോ ഞൗ ഞം

It is also worthwhile to know some "doubling" of these consonants (I can think of only three of them that are frequently used)...

ച്ച chcha

ജ്ജ jja

ഞ്ഞ njnja

These three are used all the time.

Examples :

പച്ച (pachcha, பச்ச, green)

ലജ്ജ (lajja, லஜ்ஜ, shame)

മഞ്ഞ (manjnja, மஞ்ஞ, yellow)

Some more vinyls for this group, to illustrate the combo's with vowels & also doubling...

ചാഞ്ചാട്ടം - chAnchAttam / சாஞ்சாட்டம் / चान्चाटटम

Though this has a "hetero-combo" (ഞ + ച), I don't want to highlight that at this point of time...another day For now, just look at the first character...



ചിരിയോ ചിരി - chiriyO chiri / சிரியோ சிரி / चिरियो चिरि (laughter)



ചീന വല - cheena vala / சீன வல / चीनवल (chinese net)



അച്ചാരം അമ്മിണി ഓശാരം ഓമന -achchAram ammiNi OshAram Omana / அச்சாரம் அம்மிணி ஓஷாரம் ஓமன / अच्चारम अम्मिणि ओशारम ओमन

What a long name to the movie

I'll post a cha group quiz tomorrow and solution / next lesson before the end of the week

For another day, please familiarize with the characters / derivatives...

Quiz

(Not just for ച ഛ ജ ഝ ഞ but also includes a number of alphabets already learnt ; so, it may appear a little tough but not that difficult really)

1. ഈച്ചയും ചക്കപ്പഴവും

2. പെരുന്തച്ചൻ

3. ചലച്ചിത്രം

4. ജെ.ജെയലളിത / എം. ജി. രാമചന്ദ്രൻ

5. ഇളയരാജ / രജിനി

6. മാർച്ച് / ജൂണ്‍ / ജൂലൈ

7. ജയറാം / ഞങ്ങൾ സന്തുഷ്ടരാണ്

8. തച്ചോളി അമ്പു

9. ചേട്ടൻ / ചേച്ചി

10. കൊച്ചി

(Clue : few movie names, few celebrities / politicians, a phrase, calendar months, relationships, location, cinema)

That thing with Jayaarm is gnangal santushtaraNu - wow I cracked it #deimAdhavA epdi dA unnAla mattm

Quiz answers :

1. ഈച്ചയും ചക്കപ്പഴവും - ஈச்சயும் சக்கப்பழவும் / eechchayum chakkappazhavum / ईच्चयुम चक्कप्पलवुम (housefly & jackfruit)

2. പെരുന്തച്ചൻ -பெருந்தச்சன் / perunthachchan / पेरुन्तच्चन (Thilagan's hit movie)

3. ചലച്ചിത്രം -சலச்சித்ரம் / chalachchithram / चलच्चित्रम (moving picture)

4. ജെ.ജെയലളിത / എം. ജി. രാമചന്ദ്രൻ - JJ / MGR

5. ഇളയരാജ / രജിനി - IR / Rajini

6. മാർച്ച് / ജൂണ്‍ / ജൂലൈ - March / June / July

7. ജയറാം / ഞങ്ങൾ സന്തുഷ്ടരാണ് - ஜயறாம் / ஞங்ஙள் ஸந்துஷ்டராணு - jayaRAm / njangngaL santhushtarANu

8. തച്ചോളി അമ്പു - தச்சோளி அம்பு / thachchOLi ambu -तच्चोलि अंबु

9. ചേട്ടൻ / ചേച്ചി - சேட்டன் / சேச்சி - chEttan / chEchchi - चेटटन / चेच्चि

10. കൊച്ചി - கொச்சி / kochi / कोच्चि


Great job, plum!

Lesson 8 Third group of consonants

We've covered 10 consonants so far :

ക് ഖ് ഗ് ഘ് ങ്

ച് ഛ് ജ് ഝ് ഞ്

Moving on the third group of consonants now, the "T" series (why do I get reminded of Kumar Sanu / Alka Yagnik )

For simplicity, let me straightaway add the first vowel അ to them and start :

ട - ta / ட / ट (This is confusing to Hindiwalas, why? See the third character below)

ഠ - t(h)a / none in Thamizh / ठ (haiyyA, Malayalam and Hindi exact match in this letter! Note, this letter should not be confused with the actual "tha" sound, the Malayalam letter is ത that'll be covered later, which is த in Thamizh and त in Hindi )

ഡ -da / none in Thamizh / ड (AhA, the Hindi da looks like Malayalam ta, kodumai)

ഢ - d(h)a / none in Thamizh / ढ

ണ - Na / ண / ण (moonu suzhi Na, not the reNdu suzhi)

Let me post some words with these letters next...

Words to identify the T Series characters :

ടെലിവിഷൻ - Television / टेलिविषन / டெலிவிஷன் (TV)

പഠിക്കാത്തവൻ - pat(h)ikkAththavan / पठिक्कात्तवन / படிக்காத்தவன் (illiterate)

ന്യൂഡല്ഹി - nyood(h)ulhi / न्यूडलही / ந்யூடல்ஹி (Mammootty movie, capital city of India, New Delhi)

ഢാക്ക - d(h)Akka / ढाक्क / டாக்க ( Dhaka / Dacca, Bangladesh capital)

ഊണ് - ooN / ஊண் / ऊण (Food / rice chORu)

I guess enough for another 2,3 days of learning...will get some vinyls in course of time

Oh I missed this quiz. Lot of homework to do. Thanks App ji for further exercises.

Before I post some vinyls, let me post the set of combinations with vowels & "doubling" of consonants:

(as usual, where I cannot get the character generated using google transliterate, I type in English, it may be that such characters are rare in use...BTW, an useful link : http://www.omniglot.com/writing/malayalam.htm)

ട് ട ടാ ടി ടീ ടു ടൂ tru ടെ ടേ ടൈ ടൊ ടോ tau ടം

ഠ - to create any derivative with this fellow is a pain in google, please practice adding the prefix / suffix characters like they are done for every other letter

ഡ്‌ ഡ ഡാ ഡി ഡീ ഡു ഡൂ dru ഡെ ഡേ ഡൈ ഡൊ ഡോ dau ഡം

ഢ - this one is like ഠ, difficult to get the derivatives from google transliteration tool

ണ് ണ ണാ ണി ണീ ണു ണൂ Nru ണെ ണേ ണൈ ണൊ ണോ Nau ണം

Now, please look at the doubling of these consonants (for simplicity, അ is added) :

For the first t, I could get the double character "tta" : ട്ട Notice the addition is on top in this case and not to the side, much like chcha (ച്ച).

I can't get it for t(h)a, da & d(h)a Once again English-Malayalam transliteration issues.

For NNa : ണ്ണ, this one is again "horse riding"

Now, I can post some vinyls

Now, though Malayalam has different characters for T & D (ട & ഡ), it's not unusual to see the first character sometimes used for D sound too, as in the case of Thamizh, which has only one character (ட்).

Please keep that in mind when looking at the first set of vinyls that are being posted for the letter ട and its derivatives :

ടൈഗർ സലിം / taigar salim / டைகர் ஸலிம் / टैगर सलिम (This is a regular T sound use) :



And so is the next one, "Tourist Bungalow" - the use is T:

ടൂറിസ്റ്റ് ബംഗ്ലാവ് / tourist bunglAv / டூரிஸ்ட் பங்க்லாவ்/ टूरिस्ट बंग्लाव