An Introductory Primer and Grammar of Ahom Tai ... - Khamkoo

Vowel signs
There are no vowel letters in the Ahom language but vowel signs only. These signs do
not express any meaning or form any word by themselves. They are combined with
consonants to form words.
Symbol Power of symbol Position of the symbol
(with letter k as example)
; a (short) k;
a â (long) ka
i i (short) ki
I î (long) kI
u (short) ku
û (long) kU
e e (short) ek
e ] ê (long) ek]
j âi (as in pâi) kj
o a (as in kan) ko
] âu k]
w âo kw
o] ow ko]
oj oi (as in loi) koj
e a aw (as in maw) eka
iw iao kiw
iu iu kui
Ahom is a tonal language. The meaning of a word depends on tone. A slight variation in the
tone changes the meaning of a word. It is, therefore, very important to learn the vowel sound
carefully from a speaker of the language.
; This sign sits on the right hand side of the consonants. It carries the sound of a (short)
such as k; ka, x; kha, t; ta.
a This sign sits on the right hand side of consonants. It carries the sound of â (long) such
as ma mâ, pa pâ, etc.
Note : Any of the two signs ; or a when added to a consonant forms a complete word. they
cannot, therefore, be followed by any letter in the same word. For this reason these signs are
called FINALS.
Exercise 6 : Read :
m; k; r; t; y; x; [;
n; l; c; b; ka fa ra