[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003) › c26.s7.2 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c26.s7.2 Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c26.s7.2 - **Language:** English ### [c26.s7.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s7.2) 1. The consonantal symbol is read either as basic or with the 'inherent' \*-a\* depending on the linguistic context. 2. There is therefore no separate marker for the medial \*-a\*. 3. The short horizontal stroke attached to the top right of a consonantal symbol stands only for the medial \*-ā\* as in the Brāhmī script. - [Previous: c26.s7.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s7.1) - [Next: c26.s7.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s7.3) - [Up: c26.s7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s7.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s7.2) · Pramāṇa