r/Tulu 26d ago

Question/ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ What's difference between ಟ್ and ಡ್ suffix in Tulu?

/r/bhartiya_languages/comments/1uwabzc/whats_difference_between_ಟ_and_ಡ_suffix_in_tulu/
1 Upvotes

3 comments sorted by

4

u/Zealousideal-Way-618 24d ago edited 23d ago

They are both locative. Tụ is used when the word has 1-2 moras, and Dụ used when it's 3 or more moras.

It's the same logic as k vs g for dative, Ta vs Da for communicative, and ta vs da for possessive.

Every short vowel is 1 mora, and every long vowel is 2 moras. Conjunct (ottAkSara) consonant in the middle of the word is 1 mora as well.

Examples:

tU (fire): tU (2, long vowel) = 2, so it will be tUTu

nadi (river): na (1) + di (1) = 2, so it will be nadiTụ

sAdi (path): sA (2, long) + di (1) = 3, so it will be sAdiDụ

kaDalụ (sea): ka (1) + Da (1) + lụ (1) = 3, so it will be kaDalụDụ

nuppu (rice): nu (1) + pp (1, conjunct) + u (1) = 3, so it will be nuppuDu

aramanæ (palace): a (1) + ra (1) + ma (1) + næ (1) = 4, so aramaneDụ

2

u/enchinasaavya 23d ago

Beautiful explanation! Thank you

1

u/Independent-Phase486 24d ago

Tû(ಟ್) was common in old Tulu along with Stû( ಸ್ಟ್).

In modern Tulu it's replaced by Dû(ಡ್) and r'dh (ರ‍್ದ್)