Conjuncts in Pali

[vinodh]

Hi All,

I would like to know the list of possible conjunct consonants that are possible in Pali (e.g) kk, kkh, tt, ttha, mp etc.

The GNU Free font is being modified to support Pali written in Sinhala script. I just wanna make sure, all possible Pali conjuncts are supported.

V

[Dhammanando]

Hi Vinodh,

Given your stated purpose, it would seem that the real question is not what combinations of consonants are possible in Pali, but rather, which of these combinations need to be represented by special characters in Sinhalese script. The answer is that this is required for pre-nasalized consonants (nt, nd, mb, etc.) and then a few others.

The following links should tell you all you need:

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/sinhala.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhala_alphabet

Though if the modified font is intended only for Sinhalese and Pali and not for Sanskrit, then disregard sanskritic consonant clusters like kś and śrī.

[vinodh]

Hi Bhante,

Yeah. The question should have been replaced as " which of these combinations need to be represented by special characters in Sinhalese script".

Sinhala script represents conjuncts in Pali in a peculiar way. It just systematically fuses the consonants by making them "touch each other". So theoretically, if we know the list of conjuncts in Pali, we can make sure they have the touching form rendered properly. Thus, Pali text could be rendered properly in Sinhala script.

I have attached screenshot for the rendering.