Malayalam Language -- Part 2

Technical characteristics

The Malayalam writing system is mostly syllabic. The sequence of graphic elements means that syllables have to be read as units, though in this system the elements representing individual vowels and consonants are for the most part readily identifiable. The predominant orthographic unit is a vowel ending syllable with the canonical structure (C)V. The obligatory V represents a short or long vowel. The optional C represents one or more consonants. Except in a few instances the system follows the principles of phonology and mostly corresponds to the pronunciation.In the 1960s Malayalam dispensed with many special letters representing less frequent conjunct consonants and combination of the vowel /u/ with different consonants.

Consonant Letters : - Each consonant letter represents a single consonant sound followed by the inherent vowel /a/ thereby making an orthographic syllable. Consonant letters may also be rendered as half forms which go into the constitution of consonant conjuncts. Only those half forms that represent the final member of a consonant conjunct has an inherent /a/.

Independent vowels and Dependent vowel signs :- Independent vowels in Malayalam are signs that stand on their own. These are used to write syllables, which start with a vowel. The dependent vowel signs occur only in combination with a base consisting of a sign for a single consonant or a consonant cluster. When the vowel quality of the syllable is different from that of the inherent /a/, it is represented by the respective dependent vowel sign. Explicit appearance of a dependent vowel in a syllable overrides the inherent vowel of the consonant. At the beginning of a word, vowels appear in initial form. When used to replace the inherent vowel of a consonantal syllable, vowels appear in diacritic (or 'satellite') form before, after, above, below or surrounding the modified syllable.

Conjunct characters/ Samyukthakshar:- Many consonant-vowel combination require special ligature forms. Consonant clusters, adjoining consonants without intervening vowels, are written in one of three methods. In the first method, the secondary component is attached as a diacritic to the primary consonant. In the second method, the secondary component is written as a subscript to the primary consonant. Finally, in the third method, the components are written as a fused form of the component symbols.