[Y-Indology] beginner's question about the letter's name

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The usage of the word repha to refer to the r-sign written on top of a

character is a relatively recent usage, unknown to the authors of

PrAtizAkhyas and Sanskrit grammars. In these texts, the term ra-kAra

is absent. KAtyAyana has the general vArttika: varNAt kAraH, but

then the exception rAd iphaH (ra+ipha > repha, for KAtyAyana). In

these early texts, repha refers to all occurrences of the consonant t,

with no reference to any written ligatures. These texts are still

dealing with the description of phonetics, and not of orthography.

Best,

Madhav Deshpande

 

INDOLOGY, Jogesh Panda <yogeshpanda> wrote:

>

> --- Harry Spier <harryspier@H...> wrote:

>

> >

> > 2) About the name of another letter, I've always

> > wondered why instead of

> > like the other letters the consonent r is not called

> > rakara but is called

> > repha instead.

> >

>

> The r-sign that follows a consonant [and,in writing,

> is placed underneath the consonant] is in fact called

> ra-kAra or ra-phalA, and the r-sign that precedes a

> consonant [and is placed above the consonant] is

> called a repha.

> [Whitney, I remember, wrote that the r-sign is called

> not a r-kAra but a repha.]

>

> Best wishes,

>

> Jogesh Panda

>

>

>

>

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