Practice Corner #2
Try to solve these equations:
1. º+º=?
2. ¿+¿=?
3. ¾+¾=?
4. ·+·=?
5. Ã+Ã=?
6. É+É=?
7. Ö+Ö=?
8. Ø+Ø=?
Answers:
1. ºî
2. G
3. E
4. P
5. H
6. M
7. Û
8. T
The letter above the answers is the other way to write M.
Important notes:
1. The professor writes the alphabet as if ù /rra/ comes just before Ý /zha/. Actually, it comes just after.
2. There are some more letters to learn that the professor didn't mention. Don't worry, it's only five symbols! Besides, 3 out of the 5 are basically the same as their related consonants with a line upwards.
Remember how I said the chanthrakkala makes a letter "silent?" Well, there are six exceptions to the rule! (Exactly 6--no more, no less!)
Listen to the real pronunciation of the letters Ãí, Èí, øí, ùí, Üí, and {í
So chanthrakkala won't silence them. It just doesn't make them shut up! (That's why I write /N(u)/ instead of /N/ for letters like Ãí.) We need some new symbols:
Y /N/ as in ÄâY /thuuN/. Written for pillar (these days people use the English word.) Listen!
X /n/ " " ÎÞX /maan/ (deer). Written and col. Listen!
V /r/ or /rr/ " " ØbVH¢ /svarNNam/ (gold) and µÞV /kaarr/ (car). Former (svarNNam) written and col.; latter (kaarr) col. only. Listen!
W /l/ " " ÎáÏW /muyal/ (rabbit). Written and col. Listen!
Z /L/ " " çÄZ /thEL/ (scorpion). Written and col. Listen!
Wow! Now you know at least 77 symbols in Malayalam! Keep up the good work!
Now, if you wish, you may go to Poetry Section #2 where you will find out about Kathakali, OTTamthuLLi, and Bheema and Hanuman. You will also see another poem of Nambiar's.