Abstract: This document provides general information about the
Kannada language and conventions of its usage in computers. It provides
information about the Input, Storage, Display and Printing of Kannada Characters.
We strongly feel that this information gathered from various standards is
necessary for the correct usage of the language in various applications of
Kannada Language Computing. It also includes the sorting sequence for Kannada
in Unicode.
Note 1: This document contains Unicode characters and can be viewed using MS Office XP on Windows XP or equivalent
Note 2: The
Convention followed in Unicode (Version 3.0) Chapter 9 (South and Southeast
Asian Scripts) is used in this document and might differ from the notation
commonly used in the Kannada Script.
Contact Information:
Chief Investigator
Resource Centre for Indian Language Technology
Solutions- Kannada
Department of Management Studies
Indian Institute of Science
Phone : 91-80-346
6022 / 394 2377 (Dir)
91-80-394 2378 / 394 2567
Fax :
91-80-346 6022 / 3600683 / 3600085
Email : root@iltwebserver.mgmt.iisc.ernet.in
Table
of Contents
1. History of Kannada Language 5
1.1 Description of Kannada Language 5
1.2 Brief introduction to Kannada language 6
1.2.1 Vowels 6
1.2.2 Anuswaras 6
1.2.3 Visarga 6
1.2.4 Avagraha 6
1.2.5 Consonants 6
1.2.6 Basic Language Rule in Kannada 7
2. Technical Characteristics 9
2.1
Kannada Alphabet Characteristic 9
2.1.1 Consonant Letters 9
2.1.2 Independent Vowel Letters 9
2.1.3 Dependent Vowel Signs 9
2.1.4 Virama (Halant) 11
2.1.5 Consonant Conjuncts 11
2.1.6 Visarg 12
2.1.7 Avagrah 12
2.1.8 Numerals 12
2.1.9 Punctuation Marks 12
2.1.10 Ancient Signs 12
2.2 Fonts 12
2.2.1 Font developing Tools 12
2.3 Keyboard 13
2.4 Presentation and
Storage Considerations 14
2.5 Rendering Rules 14
2.5.1 Dead Consonant Rule 15
2.5.2 Consonant RA Rules 15
2.5.3 Ligature Rules 16
2.6 Sorting issues in
Kannada 17
2.6.1 Sorting of Nukta
characters 17
2.6.2 Sorting the data records
containing anuswara and visarga 17
2.6.3 Sorting of words with dead
consonants 18
2.6.4 Sorting of Conjuncts having two
different display forms 19
2.6.5 Sorting of Diacritic characters 19
2.6.6 Conclusion 19
3. References 20
Appendix 1: Unicode chart and the Collation chart if
deletion and relocation are not allowed 21
Appendix 2: Unicode chart and the Collation chart if deletion and relocation are allowed 24
Appendix 3: Output from FontLab displaying all glyphs in the glyph
set standardised by KGP 27
1. History of
Kannada Language
Kannada is a south Indian language
spoken in Karnataka state of India.Kannada is originated from the Dravidian
Language. Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam are the other South Indian Languages
originated from Dravidian Language. Kannada and Telugu have almost the same
script. Malayalam and Tamil have resemblance. Kannada as a language has
undergone modifications since BCs. It can be classified into four types-
Purva Halegannada (from the
beginning till 10th Century)
Halegannada (from 10th
Century to 12th Century)
Nadugannada (from 12th
Century to 15th Century)
Hosagannada (from 15th
Century)
1.1 Description of Kannada Script
Kannada script is the visual form of
Kannada language. It originated from southern Bramhi lipi of Ashoka period. It underwent
modifications periodically in the reign of Sathavahanas, Kadambas, Gangas,
Rastrakutas, and Hoysalas. Even before seventh-Century, the
Telugu-Kannada script was used in the inscriptions of the Kadambas of Banavasi
and the early Chalukya of Badami in the west. From the middle of the seventh
century the archaic variety of the Telugu-Kannada script developed a middle
variety. The modern Kannada and Telugu scripts emerged in the thirteenth
Century. Kannada script is also used to write Tulu, Konkani and Kodava
languages.
Kannada along with other Indian language scripts shares a large number
of structural features. The writing system of Kannada script encompasses the
principles governing the phonetics and a syllabic writing systems, and phonemic
writing systems (alphabets). The effective unit of writing Kannada is the
orthographic syllable consisting of a consonant and vowel (CV) core and
optionally, one or more preceding consonants, with a canonical structure
of ((C) C) CV. The orthographic
syllable need not correspond exactly with a phonological syllable, especially
when a consonant cluster is involved, but the writing system is built on
phonological principles and tends to correspond quite closely to pronunciation.
The orthographic syllable is built up of alphabetic pieces, the actual letters
of Kannada script. These consist of distinct character types: Consonant
letters, independent vowels and the corresponding dependent vowel signs. In a
text sequence, these characters are stored in logical phonetic order.
The Kannada block of Unicode Standard (0C80 to 0CFF) is based on
ISCII-1988 (Indian Standard Code for Information Interchange). The Unicode
Standard (Version 3) encodes Kannada characters in the same relative positions
as those coded in the ISCII-1988 standard.
1.2 Brief introduction to
Kannada language
1.2.1 Vowels (Swaras) Vowels are the
independently existing letters which are called Swaras. They are-
ಅ ಆ ಇ ಈ ಉ ಊ ಋ ಎ ಏ ಐ ಒ ಓ ಔ
There are two types of Swaras depending on the time used to pronounce.
They are Hrasva Swara and Deerga Swara.
A freely existing independent vowel which can be pronounced
in a single matra time (matra kala) also called as a matra. They are-
ಅ ಇ ಉ ಋ ಎ ಐ ಒ ಔ
Deergha Swara A freely existing independent vowel which can be pronounced
in two matras. They are-
ಆ ಈ ಊ ಏ ಓ
1.2.2 Anuswaras ಅಂ
1.2.3 Visarga ಅಃ
1.2.4 Avagraha Also called as Plutha, which is used for the third matra
either in a consonant or a vowel.
1.2.5 Consonants (Vyanjanas) These
are dependent on vowels to take a independent form of the Consonant. These can
be divided into Vargeeya and Avargeeya.
Vargeeya Vyanjanas
ಕ್ ಖ್
ಗ್ ಘ್ ಙ್
ಚ್ ಛ್
ಜ್ ಝ್ ಞ್
ತ್ ಥ್
ದ್ ಧ್ ನ್
ಟ್ ಠ್
ಡ್ ಢ್ ಣ್
ಪ್ ಫ್
ಬ್ ಭ್ ಮ್
Avargeeya Vyanjanas
ಯ್ ರ್
ಲ್ ವ್ ಶ್ ಷ್ ಸ್ ಹ್
ಳ್
1.2.6 Basic Language Rule in Kannada
When a
dependent consonant combines with an independent vowel, a
Akshara is
formed.
Consonant (Vyanjana) + Vowel (matra) ---> Letter (Akshara)
Example: ಕ್ + ಅ ---> ಕ
Based on
this rule we can combine all the Consonants (Vyanjanas) with the existing Vowels
(matra)
to form Kagunitha for Kannada alphabet.
ಕ ಕಾ
ಕಿ ಕೀ ಕು ಕೂ ಕೃ ಕೆ
ಕೇ ಕೈ ಕೊ ಕೋ ಕೌ ಕಂ
ಕಃ
ಖ ಖಾ
ಖಿ ಖೀ ಖು ಖೂ ಖೃ ಖೆ
ಖೇ ಖೈ ಖೊ ಖೋ ಖೌ ಖಂ
ಖಃ
ಗ ಗಾ
ಗಿ ಗೀ ಗು ಗೂ ಗೃ ಗೆ
ಗೇ ಗೈ ಗೊ ಗೋ ಗೌ ಗಂ
ಗಃ
ಘ ಘಾ
ಘಿ ಘೀ ಘೃ ಘೆ ಘೇ ಘೈ
ಘೊ ಘೊ ಘೋ ಘೌ ಘಂ ಘಃ
ಙ ಙಾ
ಙಿ ಙೀ ಙು ಙೂ ಙೃ ಙೆ
ಙೇ ಙೈ ಙೊ ಙೋ ಙೌ ಙಂ
ಙಃ
ಚ ಚಾ
ಚಿ ಚೀ ಚು ಚೂ ಚೃ ಚೆ
ಚೇ ಚೈ ಚೊ ಚೋ ಚೌ ಚಂ
ಚಃ
ಛಾ ಛಿ
ಛೀ ಛು ಛೂ ಛೃ ಛೆ ಛೇ
ಛೈ ಛೊ ಛೋ ಛೌ ಛಂ ಛಃ
ಜ ಜಾ
ಜಿ ಜೀ ಜು ಜೂ ಜೃ ಜೆ
ಜೇ ಜೈ ಜೊ ಜೋ ಜೌ ಜಂ
ಜಃ
ಝ ಝಾ
ಝಿ ಝೀ ಝು ಝೂ ಝೃ ಝೆ
ಝೇ ಝೈ ಝೊ ಝೋ ಝೌ ಝಂ
ಝಃ
ಞ ಞಾ
ಞಿ ಞೀ ಞು ಞೂ ಞೃ ಞೆ
ಞೇ ಞೈ ಞೊ ಞೋ ಞೌ ಞಂ
ಞಃ
ತ ತಾ
ತಿ ತೀ ತು ತೂ ತೃ ತೆ
ತೇ ತೈ ತೊ ತೋ ತೌ ತಂ
ತಃ
ಥ ಥಾ
ಥಿ ಥೀ ಥು ಥೂ ಥೃ ಥೆ
ಥೇ ಥೈ ಥೊ ಥೋ ಥೌ ಥಂ
ಥಃ
ದ ದಾ
ದಿ ದೀ ದು ದೂ ದೃ ದೆ
ದೇ ದೈ ದೊ ದೋ ದೌ ದಂ
ದಃ
ಧ ಧಾ
ಧಿ ಧೀ ಧು ಧೂ ಧೃ ಧೆ
ಧೇ ಧೈ ಧೊ ಧೋ ಧೌ ಧಂ
ಧಃ
ನ ನಾ
ನಿ ನೀ ನು ನೂ ನೃ ನೆ
ನೇ ನೈ ನೊ ನೋ ನೌ ನಂ
ನಃ
ಟ ಟಾ
ಟಿ ಟೀ ಟು ಟೂ ಟೃ ಟೆ
ಟೇ ಟೈ ಟೊ ಟೋ ಟೌ ಟಂ
ಟಃ
ಠ ಠಾ
ಠಿ ಠೀ ಠು ಠೂ ಠೃ ಠೆ
ಠೇ ಠೈ ಠೊ ಠೋ ಠೌ ಠಂ
ಠಃ
ಡ ಡಾ
ಡಿ ಡೀ ಡು ಡೂ ಡೃ ಡೆ
ಡೇ ಡೈ ಡೊ ಡೋ ಡೌ ಡಂ
ಡಃ
ಡ ಢಾ
ಢಿ ಢೀ ಢು ಢೂ ಢೃ ಢೆ
ಢೇ ಢೈ ಢೊ ಢೋ ಢೌ ಢಂ
ಢಃ
ಣ ಣಾ
ಣಿ ಣೀ ಣು ಣೂ ಣೃ ಣೆ
ಣೇ ಣೈ ಣೊ ಣೋ ಣೌ ಣಂ
ಣಃ
ಪ ಪಾ
ಪಿ ಪೀ ಪು ಪೂ ಪೃ ಪೆ
ಪೇ ಪೈ ಪೊ ಪೋ ಪೌ ಪಂ
ಪಃ
ಫ ಫಾ
ಫಿ ಫೀ ಫು ಫೂ ಫೃ ಫೆ
ಫೇ ಫೈ ಫೊ ಫೋ ಫೌ ಫಂ
ಫಃ
ಬ ಬಾ
ಬಿ ಬೀ ಬು ಬೂ ಬೃ ಬೆ
ಬೇ ಬೈ ಬೊ ಬೋ ಬೌ ಬಂ
ಬಃ
ಭ ಭಾ
ಭಿ ಭೀ ಭು ಭೂ ಭೃ ಭೆ
ಭೇ ಭೈ ಭೊ ಭೋ ಭೌ ಭಂ
ಭಃ
ಮ ಮಾ
ಮಿ ಮೀ ಮು ಮೂ ಮೃ ಮೆ
ಮೇ ಮೈ ಮೊ ಮೋ ಮೌ ಮಂ
ಮಃ
ಯ ಯಾ
ಯಿ ಯೀ ಯು ಯೂ ಯೃ ಯೆ
ಯೇ ಯೈ ಯೊ ಯೋ ಯೌ ಯಂ
ಯಃ
ರ ರಾ
ರಿ ರೀ ರು ರೂ ರೃ ರೆ
ರೇ ರೈ ರೊ ರೋ ರೌ ರಂ
ರಃ
ಲ ಲಾ
ಲಿ ಲೀ ಲು ಲೂ ಲೃ ಲೆ
ಲೇ ಲೈ ಲೊ ಲೋ ಲೌ ಲಂ
ಲಃ
ವ ವಾ
ವಿ ವೀ ವು ವೂ ವೃ ವೆ
ವೇ ವೈ ವೊ ವೋ ವೌ ವಂ
ವಃ
ಶ ಶಾ
ಶಿ ಶೀ ಶು ಶೂ ಶೃ ಶೆ
ಶೇ ಶೈ ಶೊ ಶೋ ಶೌ ಶಂ
ಶಃ
ಷ ಷಾ
ಷಿ ಷೀ ಷು ಷೂ ಷೃ ಷೆ
ಷೇ ಷೈ ಷೊ ಷೋ ಷೌ
ಸ ಸಾ
ಸಿ ಸೀ ಸು ಸೂ ಸೃ ಸೆ
ಸೇ ಸೈ ಸೊ ಸೋ ಸೌ ಸಂ
ಸಃ
ಹ ಹಾ
ಹಿ ಹೀ ಹು ಹೂ ಹೃ ಹೆ
ಹೇ ಹೈ ಹೊ ಹೋ ಹೌ ಹಂ
ಹಃ
ಳ ಳಾ
ಳಿ ಳೀ ಳು ಳೂ ಳೃ ಳೆ
ಳೇ ಳೈ ಳೊ ಳೋ ಳೌ ಳಂ
ಳಃ
2. Technical Characteristics
Note: The
Convention followed from this section of the document is same as the Unicode
Chapter 9 (South and Southeast Asian Scripts) and might not be grammatically
correct.
2.1 Kannada Alphabet Characteristic
2.1.2 Consonant
Letters
Each of the consonant represents a single
consonantal sound but also has the peculiarity of having inherent vowel,
generally the short vowel ಅ (U+0C85). Thus, U+0C95 Kannada
letter KA represents not just K (ಕ್) but KA (ಕ). In the presence of
the dependent vowel, however, the inherent vowel associated with a consonant
letter is overridden by the dependent vowel. The different Consonants in
Kannada are:
ಕ ಖ ಗ ಘ ಙ
ಚ ಛ ಜ ಝ ಞ
ತ ಥ ದ ಧ ನ
ಟ ಠ ಡ ಢ ಣ
ಪ ಫ ಬ ಭ ಮ
ಯ ರ ಲ ವ
ಶ ಷ ಸ ಹ ಳ
2.1.3 Dependent Vowel Signs (Matras)
The dependent vowels, also known as Swaras
in Kannada, serve as the common manner of writing non-inherent vowels and are
generally referred to as Swara Chinhas in Kannada or Matras in Sanskrit.
The dependent vowels do not appear stand-alone; rather, they are visibly
depicted in combination with a base-letter form (generally a consonant). A
single consonant or a consonant cluster may have a dependent vowel applied to
it to indicate the vowel quality of the syllable, when it is different from the
inherent vowel. Explicit appearance of a dependent vowel in a syllable
overrides the inherent vowel ಆ (U +0C85) of a single consonant
letter.
There are several variations with which the
dependent vowels are applied to the base letterforms. Most of them appear as
non-spacing dependent vowels signs when applied to base letterforms; above to
the right side of a consonant letter or a consonant cluster. The following are
the exceptions and variations for the above rule:
·
The two dependent
vowel signs (U+0CCC3 & U+0CC4) appear one level below and to the right of
the consonant or the consonant cluster, separated by a small white space.
·
Each of the five
dependent vowels (U+0CC0, U+0CC7, U+0CC8, U+0CCA & U+0CCB) are
depicted by two or three glyph
components (two part or three part vowel signs ) with one component appearing
with a space to the right of the consonant or the consonant cluster.
i) In the case o f three the above-mentioned
two/three-part dependent vowels (at U+0CC0, U+0CC7, U+0CCB), the non-spacing
components of each of them is (are) the same as the vowel sign(s) of the
corresponding preceding short vowels. The spacing component for each of these
dependent vowels is the same ‘length mark U+0CD5 given in Unicode version 3.
The logic for this is that these dependent vowels are nothing but the long
forms (independent and phonetically distinct) of the preceding short vowels.
ii) The first component of the
dependent vowel (U+0CC8) mentioned above, is the same as the dependent vowel (ೆ, U+0CC6) with the second component (U+0CD6) defined independently in
Unicode version 3. The second part appears slightly below and to the right of
the consonant or the consonant clusters.
·
In view of this, it is
important to note that the two glyphs (the length mark and the second component
of ೈ) represent with the codes at U+0CD5 and U+0CD6 in Unicode version 3 have no
independent existence and do not play any part as independent codes in the
collation algorithm.
·
Unlike Devanagari, the
Kannada script does not have any character with a left-side dependent vowel
sign.
·
A one-to-one
correspondence exists between independent vowels and dependent vowel signs.
The Matras are-
2.1.4 Virama (Halant)
Like Devanagari, Kannada script also employs a sign
known as Halant or vowel omission sign. A halant sign (್, U+0CCD) nominally serves
to cancel (or kill) the inherent vowel of the consonant to which it is applied.
It functions as a combining character. When a consonant has lost its inherent
vowel by the application of halant, it is known as a dead consonant. The
dead consonants are the presentation forms used to depict the consonants
without an inherent vowel. Their rendered forms in Kannada resemble the full
consonant with vertical stem replaced by the halant sign, which marks a
character core. The stem glyph (U+0CBB) is graphically and historically related
to the sign denoting the inherent /a/ (ಅ) vowel (U+0C85). In contrast, a live consonant is
a consonant that retains its inherent vowel or is written with an explicit
dependent vowel sign. The dead consonant is defined as a sequence consisting of
a consonant letter followed by a halant. The default rendering for a
dead consonant is to position the halant as a combining mark bound to
the consonant letterform. The Halant in Kannada is ್
Like any other Indian script, Kannada is also noted
for a large number of consonant conjunct forms that serve as orthographic
abbreviations (ligatures) of two or more adjacent forms. This abbreviation
takes place only in the context of a consonant cluster. An orthographic consonant
cluster is defined as a sequence of characters that represent one or more dead
consonants (denoted by Cd) followed by a normal live consonant
(denoted by Cl).
Corresponding to each Kannada consonant, there exists a separate and unique glyph, which is specially used
to represent the corresponding consonant in a consonant cluster. Most of these
conjunct consonant glyphs resemble their original consonant forms (many without
the implicit vowel sign, wherever applicable).
In Kannada,
there is only one type of conjunct formation (consonant cluster) and it is
depicted as follows:
·
The first consonant of
the consonant cluster is rendered with the implicit or a different dependant
vowel appearing as the terminal element of the consonant cluster.
·
The remaining consonants
(consonants in between the first consonant and the terminal vowel element)
appear in conjunct consonant glyph forms in the phonetic order. They are
generally depicted directly below or sometimes below but to the right of the
first consonant.
Thus, the systematically designed Kannada script
font contains the conjunct glyph components, but they are not encoded as
Unicode characters, because they are the resultant of ligation of distinct
letters. Kannada script rendering software must be able to map appropriate
combinations of characters in context to the appropriate conjunct glyphs in
fonts.
Comes after a vowel sound and represents a sound
similar to /h/.
Avagraha sign is a spacing mark used while rendering
Sanskrit text. This is located at U+0CBD.