Exercise 4

• Characters
• Notes
• Script Tutor 1
• Script Tutor 2
• HW 1

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The fourth installment of characters (followed by the conjunct consonants for the third installment):

• Consonants: ग (ga), घ (gha), च (ca), छ (cha), ठ (ṭha), ण (ṇa), फ (pha)
  
  • घ — घ (gha) differs from ध (dha) in not having a break in its topbar (or a loop in handwriting and some fonts: see ध in the SOAS tutor below).
  • फ — फ (pha) is simply प (pa) with an added hook to the right
    
  • ण — for the northern variant of ण (ṇa), see under “Variant letters” here.

Conjunct Consonants

• र — र् (r) takes 2 forms in consonant clusters: 1 when it begins a cluster and 1 when it doesn’t.
  
  • When it follows a consonant, र् (r) takes the form of a diagonal stroke below that consonant. For example, प् + र् = प्र (pra), etc.
    
    • When this stroke cannot easily be attached to the consonant above—especially one with a rounded bottom—it takes a special form (somewhat like a circumflex accent): e.g., ठ् + र = ठ्र (ṭhra)
      
  • When it comes first in a cluster, र् (r) takes the form of a hook at the upper right corner of its syllable. For example, in these 2-syllable words:
    
    • आर्त (ā-rta), अर्थी (a-rthī), कार्त्स्न्य (kā-rtsnya)
• क्ष and ज्ञ — क्ष (kṣa) and ज्ञ (jña) are two conventional conjuncts. Since they cannot be derived from their forms, they simply have to be memorized. For the northern variant of क्ष (kṣa), see under “Variant letters” on this page.
  

1. Study the (3 page) handout for our new characters and conjunct consonants under the Characters tab.
   
2. For the conjunct consonants in that handout, pay special attention to the flattened त् (t) in त्र (tra) conjuncts (त्र tra त्र्य trya, etc.); the placement of (r) in both its forms (e.g., द्र dra vs. र्त्स्न्य rtsnya) and the form of श् (ś) with non-य semivowels (श्व śva, श्र śra, etc.). The rest are fairly easily derivable from their distinctive elements.
3. Read through the various notes to our new characters under the Notes tab.
4. Using the script tutors above as models, practice writing the characters in the sheets  attached below. Feel free to continue practicing these characters (with and without vowel diacritics) on lined paper for any that require more practice. It’s always a good idea to pronounce the sounds while you’re writing them—the more senses you engage in learning new material, the more quickly you’ll remember it.
5. Practice your recognition of the characters and conjuncts we’ve learned so far in the flashcards at the bottom of the page.