Typing DevaNagari Character Sequences

While typing DevaNagari (or other Indic Scripts), a user is often uncertain of which characters (keys) s/he need to type to display/render a conjunt/syllable. In other words, users want to know combinations of character s/he need to type to form a syllable/word. Examples given here covers character combinations (sequences) we need to type to form some regular syllables.

In a lot of Indic languages (like Hindi, Marathi, etc.) -
a. Letters are called AkShar_s (akshars)
b. Consonants are called varNN_s (varnas)
c. Vowels which are independent are called svar_s
    (these are written separately; 'swaras')
d. Vowels which are dependent are called maatraaENn
    (these are applied over consonants; matras)

We have used following shortcuts -
Cns to denote consonant,
BCns to denote base-consonant,
Hlt to denote halant,

What is _halant (हलंत)?

In all the DevaNagari consonants an inherent short vowel ‘अ’ (Ə) is present. We need to add 'halant' (्) to remove this inherent vowel from the DevaNagari consonants.

_halant looks like a small back slash ('\') and is sometimes shown below a consonant. But mostly the halant is not shown in a syllable.

When we type the 'halant' after a consonant-AkShar, it changes the 'full-form' of that AkShar to 'half-form' and vanishes.

'AAkaar' (akar) is the vertical stroke that is present in most of the 'full-form' AkShar_s. When a 'full-form' is changed to 'half-form' this 'AAkaar' is removed.

E.g. 'प' is the full-form of consonant 'pa' while 'प्‍ ' is its half-form.

If AAkaar is not present in a full-form consonant then we get a different half form of that consonant.

E.g. 'ह' is the full-form of consonant 'ha' while 'ह्‍ ' is its half-form.

In other words we can say -
Either halant removes the 'AAkaar' of the preceding consonant, or changes the form of the preceding consonant

How to Type _halant

In case of the default keyboard layout (called InScript), you will find halant on the key marked 'd'.

In case of our keyboard layout iNagari, you will find halant on the key marked ';' (semicolon).

Remember, we only can type halant after a consonant, doing so results in the corresponding half form of that consonant. As soon as we type another consonant, the preceding half form joins with it and forms a conjunct.

A. Conjuncts

A conjunct is a combination of two or more consonants. In other words, a conjunct means a letter-form representing combined consonants.

[Cns+ Hlt + BCns = Conjunct]

e.g. - क (Cns) + ् (Hlt) + य (BCns) = क्य (Conjunct)

Similarly we will get -
क + ् + ल = क्ल and
ष + ् + ट = ष्ट

The last consonant in a conjunct is the base consonant. Vowel marks called 'maatraaENn' (matras) can only be applied over base consonant.

Conjunts can be called joDdakShar_s. _joDd in Hindi means join, so joDdakShar means joint AkShar_s.

Some of the essential conjuncts are sometimes referred as 'Akhand'. Following first three (क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ) joDdakShar_s are included in the basic varNNamaalaa.

These are formed as below.

क + ् + ष = क्ष
त + ् + र = त्र
ज + ् + ञ = ज्ञ
श + ् + र = श्र
द + ् + ध = द्ध
द + ् + व = द्व
द + ् + य = द्य

B. _rakaar (Rakar)

_rakaar means 'Akaar' (shape) of the 'ra' consonant. There are two shapes for rakaar - one that looks like a small slash ('/') and another that looks like a caret ('_^') or inverted 'v'.

[Cns + Hlt + ra = CnsWithRakar]

e.g. - क (Cns) + ् (Hlt) + र (ra) = क्र (CnsWithRakar)

similarly we will get -
प + ् + र = प्र , ट + ् + र = ट्र etc.

[Note - To get rakaar below a consonant we have to type 'halant' followed by 'ra' after that consonant.]

The 'ra' in the above example is logically the base consonant but is written as a 'mark' instead of a letter ('AkShar').

Some people call it 'Below-Base Ra'!

C. _reph (Repha)

_reph is sometimes called 'Above-Base Ra'. It looks like a curved line.

[ra + Hlt + BCns = BCnsWithReph]

र + ् + य = र्य

[Note - To get reph over a consonant we have to type 'ra' + 'halant' before that consonant.]

The 'ra' consonant in the above example is placed above the base consonant in form of a 'mark'.

D. Half _ra!

The following sequence resuls in a half form of 'ra' sometimes called 'eyelash Ra'. It is sometimes used in Marathi instead of reph.

र + ् + ZWJ = र्‍