4. Syllables

The Tibetan language is monosyllabic, that is to say all its words consist of one syllable only, which indeed may be variously composed, though the componed parts cannot, in every case, be recognised in their individuality. The mark for the end of such a syllable is a dot, called tsheg, put at the right side of the upper part of the closing letter, such as the syllable ka. This tsheg must invariably be put down at th end of each written syllable, except before a shad (10), in which case only nga retains its tsheg. If therefore such a dot is found after two or more consonants, this will indicate that all of them, some way or other, from one syllablewith only one vowel in it: ka ra kar (cf. 5.8).

Click here to go to the front page of the Second Edition of H.A. Jaeschke's 'Tibetan Grammar'