Kannada grammar

The Kannada grammar ( _kn. ಕನ್ನಡ ವ್ಯಾಕರಣ) is primarily based on Keshiraja's Shabdamanidarpana (c. 1260 AD) which provides the fullest systematic exposition of Kannada language."Studies in Indian History, Epigraphy, and Culture" – By Govind Swamirao Gai, pp. 315] "A Grammar of the Kannada Language" F.Kittel (1993), pp. 3] The earlier grammatical works include portions of "Kavirajamarga" (a treatise on "alańkāra") of 9th century, "Kavyavalokana" and "Karnatakabhashabhushana" both authored by Nagavarma II in first half of the 12th century.

Various grammatical aspects of Kannada include, tatsama–tadbhava, vibhakti pratyaya, kāla (tense-forms), linga (gender-forms), sandhi, samāsa, chandassu, alańkāra; and different poetrical metres such as "vritta", "tripadi", "kanda" (also called, "choupadi" or "chaturpadi"), "shatpadi", sāngatya and others.

The name given for a pure, true letter is "akshara", "akkara" or "varna". Each letter has its own form ("ākāra") and sound ("shabda"); providing the visible and audible representations, respectively. Kannada is written from left to right."A Grammar of the Kannada Language" F.Kittel (1993), pp. 5]
Kannada alphabet ("aksharamale" or "varnamale") now consists of 49 letters.cite web |url=http://www.bhashaindia.com/Patrons/LanguageTech/Kannada.aspx |title=BhashaIndia.com :: Kannada |format= |work= |accessdate=2008-05-01]

Each sound has its own distinct letter, and therefore every word is pronounced exactly as it is spelt; so the ear is a sufficient guide. After the exact sounds of the letters have been once gained, every word can be pronounced with perfect accuracy. The accent falls on the first syllable.

Terminologies

*Word - "pada" or "shabda"
*Letter - "akshara"
*Vowel - "swara"
*Consonant - "vyanjana"
*Noun - "nāmapada"
*Verb - "kriyāpada"
*Pronoun - "sarvanāma"
*Adjective - "guṇavāchaka"
*Sentence - "saalu" / "vaakya"
*Case termination - "vibhakti"
*Verbal theme - "dhātu"
*Gender - "linga"
*Numeral - "anki"

Kannada Alphabet

Kannada alphabet is called as "aksharamale" (also, "akkaramale") or "varnamale". The script is an abugida type syllabary of the Brahmic family [cite book | title = Handbook of scripts and alphabets | first = George L. | last = Campbell | publisher = Routledge, Newyork | date = 1997-11-06 | edition = 1st Ed. | accessdate = 2007-02-23 | page = 84–5 | isbn = 9780415137157 | oclc = 34473667] There are 49 letters in the alphabet; 13 are vowels ("swara"s), 2 yōgavāhakas and 34 consonants.

Vowels ("swara"s)

Yogavaahac

The "yogavaahas" (part-vowel, part consonant) include two letters:
# The anusvara: ಂ (am)
# The visarga: ಃ (ah)

Consonants

Consonants are called "Vyanjana"s ( _kn. ವ್ಯಂಜನ in Kannada. There are two types: Structured Consonants ( _kn. ವರ್ಗೀಯ ವ್ಯಂಜನ and Unstructured Consonants _kn. ಅವರ್ಗೀಯ ವ್ಯಂಜನ.

tructured consonants

See place of articulation for more information on tongue positions.

Unstructured consonants

The unstructured consonants are consonants that do not fall into any of the above structures:

ಯ (ya), ರ (ra), ಲ (la), ವ (va), ಶ (IAST śa), ಷ (IAST IAST|ṣa) ಸ (sa), ಹ (ha), ಳ (IAST IAST|ḷa)

Formation of letters

Whenever consonant is followed immediately by one or more other consonants, that set of two or more consonants is written onegroup ("samyōga"), resulting in double or compound consonants (dvitvakshara, ottakshara). When two consonants are compounded, the latter consonant is written below the former; or is subscribed. When three consonants are compounded, the third is written below the second one. When four are compounded, the fourth is subscribed to the third. In "true Kannada" (ಅಚ್ಚ ಕನ್ನಡ) a combination of more than two consonants does not occur.Ferdinand Kittel, pp. 20]

While reading, the upper consonant that is capped is pronounced as a half consonant, and the short vowel [like 'a' (ಅ) or 'i' (ಇ)] is sounded with the lower consonant. When three consonants are compounded, the middle one too is pronounced as a half consonant, and the short vowel [like 'a' (ಅ) or 'i' (ಇ)] is sounded with the lowest one; and so forth.

Eg 1: "'kannada ().

Eg 2: lakshmi (ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ). Consonant "ka" (ಕ) is followed by another consonant "Sha" (ಷ), which in turn is followed by third consonant "ma" (ಮ). First consonant appears in the top, second one underneath the first one, third one underneath the second one; ಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ. The vowel associated with the last consonant is 'i' (ಇ).

Compound bases

Compound bases, called as "samāsa" in Kannada, are a set of two or more words compounded together. [Ferdinand Kittel, pp. 30] There are several types of compound bases, based on the rules followed for compounding.Eg: tangaaLi (ತಂಗಾಳಿ), hemmara (ಹೆಮ್ಮರ), immadi (ಇಮ್ಮಡಿ)

Genders

According to Kesiraja's Shabdamanidarpana, there are 9 gender forms in Kannada. However, in modern Kannada literature, only three gender forms are in practice; Masculine, Feminine and Neuter. [Ferdinand Kittel, pp. 39] ;MasculineWords that denote males, are considered as masculine gender.
*Eg: Shiva (ಶಿವ) , Bhima (ಭೀಮ), Rama (ರಾಮ), King - arasa (ಅರಸ)

;FeminineWords that denote females, are considered as feminine gender.
*Eg: Parvati (ಪಾರ್ವತಿ), Lakshmi (ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ), Saraswati (ಸರಸ್ವತಿ), Amma (ಅಮ್ಮ)

;NeuterAll the words that do not belong to either of the above two genders, are considered as neuter gender.
*Eg: Love (ಪ್ರೀತಿ), World (ಲೋಕ), Tree (ಮರ), Bear (ಕರಡಿ), River (ನದಿ)

Notes

References

*cite book |last= Rice|first=E.P. |title=Kannada Literature|origyear=1921|year=1982|publisher=Asian Educational Services|location=New Delhi|isbn= 8120600630
*cite book |last= Various|first= |title= Encyclopaedia of Indian literature - vol 2|origyear=1988|year=1988|publisher= Sahitya Akademi|location= |isbn=8126011947
*cite book |last=Sastri|first= Nilakanta K.A.|title= A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar|origyear=1955|year=2002|publisher= Indian Branch, Oxford University Press|location= New Delhi|isbn= 0-19-560686-8
*cite book |author=Various |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 5|publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1996 |pages= |isbn=8126012218
*cite book |author=Ferdinand Kittel |title=A grammar of the Kannada language in English : comprising the three dialects of the language (ancient, mediæval and modern) |publisher=Basel Mission Book and Tract Depository |location=Mangalore|year=1903|reprint=1985 |pages= |isbn=3764808985