Description of Consonants

The velar plosive sounds – k and g

k This symbol represents the voiceless velar plosive sound k heard in kāke (n. crow) and kāsu (n. coin).

g This symbol represents the voiced velar plosive sound g heard in gāke (n. a kind of greens) and gāsu (n. potato).

In Badugu, the difference in sound and meaning between kokke (n. bend) and gogge (n. ear-wax) is taken to indicate the existence of two velar plosive phonemes, k and g.

The velar nasal sound – nk/ng

nk/ng This symbol represents the voiced velar nasal sound nk/ng heard in tenkke (n. coconut) and anggua (n. roof of mouth).

The palatal plosive sounds – c and j

c This symbol represents the voiceless palatal plosive sound c heard in kaccu (v. bite) and pucca (n. mad male person).

j This symbol represents the voiced palatal plosive sound j heard in jōḍu (n. pair) and jōne (n. down pour).

In Badugu, the difference in sound and meaning between hacce (n. green) and hajje (n. foot print) is taken to indicate the existence of two palatal plosive phonemes, c and j.

The palatal nasal sound – nc/nj

nc/nj This symbol represents the voiced palatal nasal sound nc/nj heard in anccu (v. frighten) and anjju (v. fear).

The retroflex plosive sounds – ṭ and ḍ

ṭ This symbol represents the voiceless retroflex plosive sound ṭ heard in haṭṭi (n. village) and paṭṭu (n. patch of land).

ḍ This symbol represents the voiced retroflex plosive sound ḍ heard in kōḍa (n. monkey) and haḍi (n. door).

In Badugu, the difference in sound and meaning between oṭṭu (v. stick) and oḍḍu (v. collect water etc.) is taken to indicate the existence of two retroflex plosive phonemes, ṭ and ḍ.

The retroflex nasal sound – ṇ

ṇ This symbol represents the voiced retroflex nasal sound ṇ heard in taṇṭe (n. fight) and gaṇḍu (n. male).

The dental alveolar plosive sounds – t and d

t This symbol represents the voiceless dental alveolar plosive sound t heard in hattu (n. ten) and tattu (n. carry, usually a baby, in one’s arms).

d This symbol represents the voiced dental alveolar plosive sound d heard in haddu (n. share) and daḍa (n. pathway).

In Badugu, the difference in sound and meaning between taṭṭu (n. either of the two sloping surfaces of a hill) and daṭṭu (n. stalk) is taken to indicate the existence of two dental alveolar plosive phonemes, t and d.

The dental alveolar nasal sound – nt/nd

nt/nd This symbol represents the voiced dental alveolar nasal sound nt/nd heard in santtu (n. evening) and handdi (n. wild boar).

The bilabial plosive sounds – p and b

p This symbol represents the voiceless bilabial plosive sound p heard in pāla (n. share) and pāme (n. story).

b This symbol represents the voiced bilabial plosive sound b heard in beṭṭu (n. hill) and bare (n. alphabet).

In Badugu, the difference in sound and meaning between paṭṭu (n. patch of land) and baṭṭu (n. pride) is taken to indicate the existence of two bilabial plosive phonemes, p and b.

The bilabial nasal sound – m

m This symbol represents the voiced bilabial nasal sound m heard in mātu (n. language) and mane (n. home).

The palatal approximant sound – y

y This symbol represents the voiced palatal approximant sound y heard in nēya (n. justice) and sēya (n. fairness).

The alveolar flap sound – r

r This symbol represents the voiced alveolar flap sound r heard in roṇa (n. fortune) and dāri (n. road).

The alveolar lateral approximant sound – l

l This symbol represents the voiced alveolar lateral approximant sound l heard in hallu (n. tooth) and lekka (n. count).

The labiodental approximant sound – v

v This symbol represents the voiced labiodental approximant sound v heard in kave (n. forked stick) and gava (n. love).

The retroflex lateral approximant sound – ḷ

ḷ This symbol represents the voiced retroflex lateral approximant sound ḷ heard in haḷḷa (n. river) and joḷḷu (n. husk).

The alveolar trill sound – ṛ

ṛ This symbol represents the voiced alveolar trill sound ṛ heard in baṛlu (n. dried meat, wood, etc.) and haṛlu (n. pebbles used in foretelling future).

The alveolar nasal sound – n

n This symbol represents the voiced alveolar nasal sound n heard in nūne (n. leech) and noṇa (n. house fly).

The alveolar fricative sound – s

s This symbol represents the voiceless alveolar fricative sound s heard in sōre (n. pigeon) and sūsu (v. spill).

The glottal fricative sound – h

h This symbol represents the voiceless glottal fricative sound h heard in hōke (n. handful) and hiṭṭu (n. meal).