[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.s8.2 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c26.s8.2 Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c26.s8.2 - **Language:** English ### [c26.s8.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s8.2) 1. The basic consonant is marked by the \*puḷḷi\* ('dot'). 2. The unmarked consonantal symbol is read with the 'inherent' \*-a\*. 3. The short horizontal stroke at the top right of a consonantal symbol represents the medial \*-ā\* as in Brāhmī. 4. The \*puḷḷi\* is also employed to mark the short \*e\* and \*o\* in initial and medial positions. - [Previous: c26.s8.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s8.1) - [Next: c26.s8.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s8.3) - [Up: c26.s8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s8.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s8.2) · Pramāṇa