1. [k] (i) This is a true velar plosive, and fully maintains its character when it occurs in the accented syllable of the word or when it is doubted.
(ii) In unaccented syllables, it may be reduced to the fricative [x], as in [pʌrʌjuxa] to say or [nʌṭəkkuxa] to walk.
(iii) It may sometimes even disappear in unaccented syllables: e.g.,
[pʌkuti] half>[pʌxuti]>[pɑˑti];
[mʌkən] son>[mʌxən]>[mɔhən]>[moːn] (colloquial);
[poːkum] will go>[poˑum]>[poˑm]>[puːm];
[ʋʌrikʌjilla] will not come>[ʋʌruʋilla] or [ʋʌrilla];
[ʋʌnnəkoḷḷuˑ] you may come>[ʋʌnnoːḷu].
(iv) Sometimes by the side of voiced sounds, the [k] may become voiced into [ɡ] or [ǥ];
[bɦəkən] name of a giant>[bɦəɡən].
(v) English words with final [k] are naturalised in Malayalam with the [k] doubled and with the addition of a supporting vowel [ə], e.g., book>[bukkə], etc.
(vi) [k] has a more palatal value when it comes in association with palatal vowels: e.g.,
[irikkʲuka] to sit; [mʌrəʲkkuka] to cover.
2. [kh] is not an original Dravidian sound. The educated classes accurately pronounce this and other aspirates, but the uneducated peopl hardly make any distinction between [k] and [kh] or between [ɡ] and [ɡɦ]: e.g.,
[ʋikhjɑˑtəm] celebrated > colloquial [ʋikkjɑˑtəm];
cf. [bɦɑːɡjəm] luck > Tamil [pɑːkkjəm];
3. and 4. [ɡ] and [ɡɦ]. These sometimes change into [k] ine tadbhavas or modified Sanskrit words and in certain colloquial corruptions: e.g.,
[ɡoˑʋindən] a personal name > colloquially [koːntu];
[ɡɦʌnəm] heaviness > [kʌnəm];
[ɡoa mɑːmpʌɹ̣əm] Goa mangoes > [koːmɑˑmbəɹ̣əm].
5. [ṭ] is a true cerebral or retroflex sound in Malayalam, as in other Dravidian languages. [ṭ] does not occur initially. Examples:
[kɑːṭə] forest; [kəṭṭə] knot; [pɑːṭɔ] to sing; [pʌṭṭə] silk.
6. [ṭh] occurs in Sanskrit words, but is rarely pronounced accurately as an aspirate by the uneducated: e.g.,
[mʌṭhəm] house > [mʌṭəm], also [mʌḍəm].
