4 
LADAKHI GRAMMAR 
R, wlien following a consonant, is pronounced rather 
like the English r, only softer. Beginners generally have 
some difficulty in hearing it at all. 
I do not think it right to speak of linguals in this 
case, because r, following labials or gutturals, is not 
differentiated from r, following a dental. Thus in drug , 
six, and in kcibra , a herb, the r is the same. 
Pronunciation of R and TV. 
The normal pronunciation of b is not different from that 
of English. When placed between two vowels or after 
ng, r and Z, b is pronounced like the English v. In this book 
v will always be written in this case. The pronunciation 
of w is nearly the same as that of the English 10 . 
Prefixed letters . 
Though many are silent, some are sounded in Ladakhi. 
Prefixed b , d, g are often pronounced as r and s . Ex¬ 
amples : bdemo = rdemo, nice; dgosces == rgoshes , to must; 
gtam = stam , speech. Prefixed r often becomes s, and s 
becomes r; both can become sh. Examples : rtags — 
stags , a present; sgam = rgam , box; rkang-gling = 
shkangling , flute. All prefixed letters before l become 7i. 
Examples: gla = lilay wages; slebces = hlebces, to arrive; 
glu = hlu> song. The orthography of this book is in 
accordance with the actual pronunciation. 
Consonants before r and y. 
Br and gr become dr ; pr and kr become tr; phr and 
khr become thr : by — j, py ~ c y pliy = ch. In Lower 
Ladakh, these rules are not observed with labials. The 
orthography of this book is in accordance with the pro¬ 
nunciation of Leli. 
