Grammar Classes
Grammar Classes
Grammar Classes
Every language has two parts, spoken and written. Written part is called script whereas the spoken part is known as
dialect. The script used for Tibetan language is named U-chan. Literary it means the letter having horizontal lines over
it. There is also a script named U-med where there is no horizontal lines upon it. U-Chan is the carrier of Buddhist
teachings and U-med is the official script used in Tibetan letter writings.
This U-Chan script was made and invented by a great Tibetan grammarian called Thonmi Sambhota who was said to
the Mahayana form of Buddhism was in dominant position in Indian sub continent.
Tibetan Alphabets
There are 3o consonants and 4 vowels in Tibetan. Following are the consonants:-
The four vowels are called
and they are shown below with the help of a consonant A since there is no
() () () ()
There is great importance of prefixes and suffixes in Tibetan languages. As the Tibetan grammarian had chosen only
30 out of 36 consonant available and only four out of 16 vowels and that too without independent letter, there was
dearth of letters to depict different sounds. So to cover up that deficiency of letters, they created the system of
prefixes, suffixes, surmount and subjoin letters that we will came across latter on. First of all, lets start with prefixes.
They are five in numbers and they are called SVon.ajug.LV// in their native language. In the beginning they were
pronounced, but now a days they are not being pronounced.
Suffixes are ten in number and they are pronounced with half force as compared to the main letters. They are
following:-
The place and pronunciation of Additional Suffixes in Tibetan:There are two additional suffixes in Tibetan grammar. They do not having any pronunciation, but their presence
changes the meaning of that word. These two suffixes are:-
Formation of words
It is very interesting to learn the Formation of words in Tibetan language and the place of main letters in
them. Following facts must be taken into consideration while reading Tibetan texts. Without having the
knowledge of these rules, one may not be able to pronounce Tibetan words and if at all pronounced, it will
be wrong one.
1.
There must be one and only one main letter between two dots.
2.
It is the main letter only that will have vowels, surmount letter or subjoin letter.
3.
The main letter may or may not have any prefix, suffix or additional suffix with it.
4.
b.
PM
c.
PMS
d.
MS
e.
MSAs
f.
PMSAs
(Whereas P stands for prefixes, M for main letters, S for suffixes and As for Additional suffixes).
Three Subjoins
12
Surmount
He is a huntsman.
Dorje is a Gem.
He is a foolish boy.
10
Surmount
11 Surmount
Give me water.
4 Subjoin Letters
Subjoin
saying?
It is good to work.
11
Subjoin
To mourn is useless.
He is my friend.
He is resident of Trehor.
He is not in memory.
She is a dancer.
She is my sister.
Subjoin
I like music
He is my teacher.
Wind is cold.
Subjoin
16
Oh/Hey,
Salt
Cap
Crow,
Horn
Fifteen,
School,
Coat
Pure,
Deer
Grass/Root,
-
-
-
34 30 4 :-
db*vs.bZ/i
Ai.
Au. Ae.
Ao.
(gi.gu/) (Zbs.kYU/) (g+ev.bu/)
(n.ro/)
SVon.ajug.LV/
g.
d.
b.
m.
a/
RJes.ajug.bcu/
g.
m.
Gender of Letters:
v.
d.
a.
n.
r. l.
b.
s/
\o.
mo.
mo.
Qin.tu.mo. mo.gQm
k.
c.
t.
p.
cx.
m.ni
v.
g. Z.
j. z.
d. a.
b. y.
jx.
Q.
w. s.
v.
f.
n.
m.
r.
l.
h.
A.
\o.
mo.
g. d. b. s.
v. m. a.
\o
mo.
b.
a.
q.
].
[.
\.
]x
m.niv.
n. r. l.
m.niv. Qin.tu.
mo.
g.
d.
m.
Parts of Speech:
Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Gender, Number, Verb, Tense
Noun:In Tibetan Noun is same as it is in English or Hindi. It is the anme of person, place or thing. In Tibetan it is written as
miv./
miv.ni.
gv.zg.gm.dvos.po.gv.Zig.gi.miv.vm.vo.po.cxm.STon.
b*ed.du.gYUr.pai.SG+ao/
gv.zg.sems.cn.dvos.podv.s.]ai.miv.
gv.zg/=person dvos.po/=Thing gv.Zig/=Any vo.po.cxm/=Name b*ed.du/
=used for SG+/ =word
1. Common Noun
rigs.sm.kYi.miv/
LH/
LH.mo/
bod.p. RGY.gr.p.
bRJod.p/
bu/ bu.mo.
ri.
qv.p.
LH.dv.LH.mo.RNms.l.m]od.p.gYis/
bu.dv.bu.mo.RCXe.yin.adug/
qo.dgon.p.LT.]ed.ag+o.gi.red/
gv.zg.gm.b*e.b,g.gi.miv/
LH.s/ jo.qv./ bl.yul/ z).b/ SG+ol.m/
RGY.gr/
RDo.RJe.lgs/
pd(/
]xvs.p/ fi.m/
db*vs.cn.m/
bRJod.p/
LH.s.ns.RGY.gr.[.riv.po.red/ Lhasa is far from India.
SKu.Zbs.l.s)ob.SBYov.b*ed.kYi.adug/
qos.svs.RGYs.l.dd.p.b*ed.kYi.adug/
fi.m.Qr.]xe.pd(.q.\*e.yi.red/
db*v.cn.m.rig.pai.LH.mo.red/
3. Abstract Noun
rv.bZin.gYi.miv/ Qes.a]xor.gYi.miv./
sems.Qugs/ n.]x/ ]xor.b/ dka.d+in/ ,
yg.po/
dga.b/ dkr.po/ riv.]/
RG.b/
4. Collective noun
]xogs.miv./
a]xv.g/ ]g.p/ ]xogs.adu/
dmg.mi/ SDe/
q*u/ ajxin.g&/