2 
LADAKHI GRAMMAR. 
The normal pronunciation of the same holds tbe mean 
between English media and tenuis; but the tenuis is 
always inclined to he pronounced like a media, if it is 
not furnished with a protecting letter. 
Protecting letters are— 
(1) All prefixed and superadded letters of Tibetan 
orthography, whether they be pronounced or 
not. In this grammar only the actually pro¬ 
nounced ones are written, but it must be 
borne in mind, that ka, word, has the protec¬ 
tion of a silent b 9 tangces that of a silent b 9 
tong that of a silent g , etc. Thus, for instance, 
the following words show the normal pro¬ 
nunciation of the tenuis : skampo, dry; ka, 
word; skarma , star; stanpo, firm; skan, gum ; 
sta 9 horse, etc. 
(2) A following y protects the preceding tenuis. 
Thus we have the normal pronunciation in 
kye 9 oh; kyir, round; kyongpo , bard. In 
kyirmo , Rupee, the y was lost and the pro¬ 
nunciation became girmo. 
(3) Letters forming a syllable, in a few cases 
protect the following tenuis: thus the pro¬ 
nunciation of the t in ngatang , we, and 
ngati 9 our, is normal. 
Examples for unprotected tenuis = media, kun = 
gun 9 all; kusliu = gusliu 9 apple; kaklict = gakha, 
alphabet ; kabsha =■ gabsha, shoe; karskyin = gar sky in, 
loan ; kophongs = gophongs , guitar; koba = goa, leather; 
kram = dram, cabbage; krongkrong = drongdrong up¬ 
right ; trangka = drangka , a coin; tagir = daggi, bread ; 
tramnag = dramnag , gout; pagbu = bagbu, brick ; pita = 
