Page:A Grammar of the Telugu language.djvu/55

Rh fortnight being denoted by శు॥ These expressions are used in nearly all common letters.

The fractional system of numbers uses peculiar signs: of which the basis is one అణా ana or anna i. e. one sixteenth: for which the Telugu name is వీసం vīsam, or, viss. Therefore as we divide decimally, (by tenths, twentieths and so forth) the Hindus divide by quarters eights, sixteenth, half 16ths, quarter 16ths, and then follows a 16th, 32nd and 64th part of a sixteenth.

One anna is denoted by a horizontal line—twothree. Then four (that is one quarter) is expressed by an upright line ౹ the name for which in Sanscrit is పాదం pādam: in Hindustani pāo and in Telugu కాలు cālu: each of which words literally means a leg. Thus in Sanscrit సపాదలక్ష sa-pāda-laxa signifies a lac [లక్ష​] and a quarter.

The mark for two sixteenthsis written thus ౽, and called పరక​ or two annas. Three annasis written ౾ and called మువ్వీసం muvvīsam i. e. three visams. Two quarters, or, half, is ౺ called అర​ Three quarters is ౻ and called ముక్కాలు which is a contraction for మూడు three కాలు quarter.

The anna or sixteenth is used in various modes of reckoning, but whether regarding money, quantity, number, time, or distance, a one-anna or half anna share always bears the import already specified. Thus $1⁄64$ is called a quarter-anna Share.

The letters క​, చ​, ట​, త​, ప​ when they stand at the beginning of words are liable to being softened into గు, జ​, (or స​) డ​, ద​, and