Instead of కారం caram, the word త్వం twam (a word \ikeness as పటుత్వం stoutness, గురుత్వం heaviness) is sometimes used. Thus these three vowels are at pleasure called అత్వం, ఇత్వం, ఉత్వం, atwam, itwam, and utwam.
If two consonants meet, one is written without a vowel, under a a a the other. Thus నక్క, nacca 'a fox.' కుక్క cu c, kukka 'a dog.' బల్లెము a tfB&a b 1 mu, ballemu ' a spear.' గుర్రము gu r mu gurramu 'a 1 r horse.' Here we see that B బ is written without the vowel a; and GU గు has the vowel a written above it, but not pronounced. In గుర్రము the mark l_ is R and comes between gu and ram. This mark shaped l__ or v, » is called క్రారావడి crara vadi.
The letter v, j is used in writing: but in printing it is more convenient to use the ancient forms (_ or J) thus క్ర or క్ర kra. This form is used in inscriptions on some ancient temples; and is retained in many manuscripts, both Telugn and Cannadi.
The letter that stands on the line is pronounced first; then the one, or two, under it. Then the vowel above. Thus ప్ర is pra: and స్త్రీ s, strl, a woman, also written 9C^~°; that is, సీ si with r a i n t and {J r beneath. Thus also ^^i s s that is, Sastri, t 'a learned man.' r
Sometimes a consonant is marked as " silent;" no vowel being attached to it. The silent mark called పొల్లు pollu is cr— or £~ added to the top of the letter instead of a vowel. Thus పృథక్ pridhac (i. e. separately,a part.) Here the mark written above k shows that it is silent. Thus also ల is the letter La; but by adding this sign it becomes ల్ as in the word హల్ hal; meaning a consonant. So అచ్ ach (i. e. a vowel). Thus త ta becomes త్ as in the word అవశాత్ avasSt ' unexpectedly.' The letter
