PHONETIC SYSTEM
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.
| b, | as in English. | |
| ch, | the ch of church. | |
| d, | used in the text for the English sound and also for the lingual consonant ḍ.[1] | |
| f, | as in English. | |
| g, | the g of sing. | |
| gg, | the g of finger. | |
| gh, | the ch of ich. | |
| h, | used for a sound of doubtful nature (see p. [611]). | |
| j, | as in English. | |
| k, | as in English. | |
| kh, | the ch of auch. | |
| l, | used in the text for the English sound and for the lingual consonant ḷ.[[xviii]] | |
| m, | as in English. | |
| n, | as in English. | |
| ñ, | a nasal n, as in French. | |
| p, |  | as in English. |
| r, | ||
| s, | a sound resembling the English s. | |
| sh, | as in English. | |
| t, | as in English and also for the lingual ṭ. | |
| th | the th both of though and throw. | |
| v, | | as in English. |
| w, | ||
| z, | the z of zeal. | |
| zh, | the si of occasion. | |
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.”