PHONETIC SYSTEM
Reading edition
The following is the phonetic system which has been used in this book. The use of many of the signs is more fully described in Chapter XXV.
Vowels.
â, the a of father. ò, the aw of law.
a, the u of hut. û, the oo of moon.
ä, the a of hat. u, the u of full.
ê, the ei of their. ü, the German vowel.
e, the e of met. ai, the i of bite.
î, the ee of meet. au, the ou of house.
i, the i of hit. ei, the a of date.
ô, the o of post. eu, the French diphthong.
o, the o of pot. oi, the oy of boy.
ö, the o of word.
Consonants.
Sounds represented by ch, s, sh, and th, very frequently inserted euphonically in Toda words, have usually been omitted. I have also omitted the signs showing the long vowels whenever a word occurs frequently throughout the book, and the glossary should be consulted to ascertain the correct method of pronouncing such words. Similarly, Appendices III and IV should be consulted to ascertain the proper pronunciation of the names of places and plants.
I do not use the plurals of Toda words, either in the English form or in that proper to the Toda language; thus, I write “the two palol” and not “the two palols” or “the two palolam.”
Map.
The names printed in the same type as Kârs are those of Toda villages; the names in italics, as Nanjanad are those of Badaga villages; the names in small black type, as Ootacamund are those of towns with a general population, or of dâk bungalows.