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15
form of the vowel which is combined with each of the consonant forms, so that the two together make what is called a compound letter. For example, the secondary form of @ is © which, in the case of most letters, is placed at the top of the consonant form with which it is combined ; thus இ combined with becomes the compound letter இ kt. The dot, being only placed over a consonant when it is mute, disappears when the secondary form of any vowel is attached to the consonant. The next step is to learn the secondary form of each of the twelve vowels.
17. The vowel அ has no secondary form, because it is inherent in each consonant form (para. 12). The absence of the dot, which would make the vowel mute (para. 13), implies the presence of ௮2 as ௬, ப,ம, ர, ல, ன, Exam- ples கல் a stone, மனம் the mind, பல many.
18. The secondary form of ஆ is 7, which is placed immediately after the consonant form; thus’ combined with ஆ becomes ar ka. In the same manner are formed uit, wt, 77, லா. In the case of three letters, all of which will be given hereafter, the secondary form of —% is Ou which is written underneath the letter from right to left. Thus ன combined with ஆ becomes னா. Hxamples—ara a leg, பால் milk, காலம் time, மான் a stag,
19. The secondary forms of @ and 2 (or *) are 9 and © respectively, which, in most instances, are placed at the top of the consonant form; as இ, பி, மி, ரி, லி, ofl, —and—&, 19, மீ, ரீ, லீ, of. Hxamples—Qof yet, பின் alter, மீன் a fish, மின்னல் lightning (para. 14).
20. The secondary forms of உ and ஊ present several variations. They are of three kinds, namely—(1) A curve passing below the letter from right to left for ©, and a circle added to it for eo ; thus, when eombined with these
vowels, ம and 7 become (௦, ¢p, and ௬, ரூ. The letter
