004 OF MEDIAL AND FINAL VOWELS.

13. Vowels, not initial, when joined to consonants, assume a different form, but retain their own sound, and are pronounced after the consonants to which they are attached: thus; In an ancient Malayalim Alphabet, now nearly obsolete, which appears to have been derived from an old Tamil Alphabet, of peculiar character, and used for writing title deeds and grants of land, there are two characters to distinguish the short and long എ; and it would tend to make this language more definite, and be of great assistance to lear ers; if something to answer the same purpose could be introduced into the present Alphabet. To adopt the old Malayalim character would require a change in the consonant to which the medial character must be annexed; but as this would not be desirable, perhaps the introduction of the following character േ, used as the medial of long എ in Tamil would be the least objectionable; thus മെത്ത, ചേതം, For this initial, I propose this character ഏ: thus എണ്ണ Oil; ഏഷണി Malice, Backbiting.