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cubit full, or the length of a cubit. 38 padi, ten, and 53 ési,

at the rate of, become

táți, the inflexion of T

a leaf, become

3 padési, at the rate of ten.

táḍu, a palmyra tree, and ↔š áku, táṭáku, a palmyra leaf or cadjan.

(5.) PERMUTATION OR INTERCHANGE OF CONSONANTS.

49. Many of the consonants in the Telugu language are interchangeable. Even in the commonest intercourse of ordinary conversation these changes constantly occur. A few simple rules are all that is necessary in a work like the present.

50. The letters that are thus interchangeable are ≤, ≈, wɔ, é, 2, ka, cha, ta, ta, pa, which are frequently turned into the cognate letters X, or ≈, %, X, 3 or w, ga, sa or ja, da, da, va or ba. It must, however, be borne in mind that the reverse change cannot be admitted, that is to say, X ga cannot be changed into ka, &c.

51. (1.) When words beginning with the above letters are preceded by nouns in the nominative case, and by such parts of the verb as end in ∞, ∞, or â, ḍu, du, or di, as well as by అప్పుడు, యిప్పుడు, యేప్పుడు, appudu, ippudu, yeppudu, then, now, when, they are changed into their equivalents X, 3, 4, 8, 2, ga, sa, ḍa, da, va. Thus: a adi, that, preceding skáka, the negative relative participle of → avu, to become, the ká is changed into gá, and produces

the common phrase, as adigáka, besides that. Again, in the phrase, anna, an elder brother, joined to aver tammulu, younger brothers, the ta with which the latter word begins is always changed into & da, thus: IZ Jatver annadammulu, brothers. Similarly, talli, mother, and a tanḍri, father, together become e tallidandrulu, parents.

52. (2.) When words beginning with the above consonants, namely, 5, 5, w, 5, 2, ka, cha, ta, ta, pa, are preceded by words in the druta class, these letters are changed into X,∞, to, X, w, ga, ja, da, da, ba. Thus: in the passive voice, the verb paḍu, to fall, in all its moods and tenses, is added to the infinitive of active verbs, and the initial pa is changed into w ba, the infinitive mood belonging to the druta class. The active voice o pampu, to send, is changed into the passive by adding paḍu, to

fall, to the infinitive; but the pa of the latter is changed into a ba, and the whole word becomes Kow pampabaḍu, to be sent.

III. ETYMOLOGY.

(1.) NOUNS. (a.) GENDER.

1. There are three genders in Telugu, namely, masculine, feminine, and neuter. The masculine represents men; the feminine, women; and the neuter, animals and inanimate objects.

(b.) NUMBER.

2. There are two numbers-singular and plural. The plural is formed by adding ∞ lu to the nominative singular, or to the inflexion.

(c.) CASES.

3. Telugu nouns can scarcely be divided into declensions, and the usual cases of the Latin language are totally inapplicable to them. The best plan will be to arrange them in classes according to their terminations. The only changes in the form of the noun which can properly be called cases are three, namely, the nominative, the inflexion, and the objective. These three cases apply equally to the singular and to the plural. Various forms of the noun showing the relation in which it stands to other words, are indicated by adding to the singular or to the plural inflexion certain postpositions, a list of which will subsequently be given. Some of these suffixes, when added to the inflexion, formerly received the name of cases; but, in that supposition, if, as might justly be done, all of them were SO called, the number of such cases would be indefinitely enlarged.

.

4. As a general rule, the inflexion singular is the same as the nominative, or is formed by changing the nominative into ni or ♫ nu; and the objective is formed in a similar way; but the variations are so numerous, especially in pure Dravidian words, that no definite rule can be laid down.

5. The nominative plural always ends in eo lu, which is either affixed to the nominative singular, or incorporated

with it. Thus to 38 naramu, a nerve, e lu is affixed, making ove naramulu, nerves; but in è tsóṭu, a place, the ex lu is incorporated with the singular. Thus: చోట్లు tsóṭlu, places. The different classes or groups of nouns must, therefore, be carefully examined.

6. The inflexion plural is invariably formed by changing the u into a, and the objective by affixing nu to the inflexion. Thus: 38ve naramulu, nerves, is in the inflexion నరముల naramula, and in the objective, నరములను,

naramulanu.

7. Instead therefore of dividing nouns into declensions, with a numerous string of exceptions, we think the most convenient method is to divide them into classes or groups.

(2.) DECLENSION OF NOUNS.

8. (a.) CLASS 1. NOUNS ENDING IN ḍu.

The first class contains masculine nouns ending in du. These nouns form the inflexion by changing the termination of the nominative into ♪ ni, and the objective is formed in the same manner.

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PLURAL.

The nominative plural is formed by changing the final du of the nominative singular into e lu; the inflexion, by changing the u of the nominative into a; and the objec tive, by affixing ≈ nu to the inflexion.

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9. Some masculine nouns in this group which end in uḍu, that is, which have u preceding the final ḍu, have a second mode of forming the inflexion by dropping the du as well as by changing du into ni. Thus: balliduḍu, a hero, is in the inflexion either wo w balliduni. The exceptions are é younger brother, and e alluḍu, a son-in-law.

(b.) CLASS 2. NOUNS IN mu.

ballidu, or tammuḍu, a

10. Neuter nouns ending in a mu, preceded by a, e, or á are numerous. The inflexion singular is the same as the nominative, though the final mu is commonly changed into

pu; and the objective is formed by adding nu, to the inflexion. The nominative plural is formed by adding ∞ lu to the nominative singular; the inflexion, by changing the final u of the nominative into a; and the objective, by adding nu to the inflexion. The usual form of this class of nouns is appended.

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