#32 of forty-four · low class
ภ
pho samphao
ภ สำเภา · sailing ship
Low class อักษรต่ำ
Low class is the shifted class — the same mark lands a different tone than on mid or high.
A consonant’s class exists for one reason: it decides the tone. Low class is the shifted class — the same mark lands a different tone than on mid or high. Here’s every outcome for ภ as the initial:
| Syllable | – No mark | ◌่ mái èek | ◌้ mái thoo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liveopen or sonorant end | mid | falling | high |
| Dead · longlong vowel + stop | falling | falling | high |
| Dead · shortshort vowel + stop | high | falling | high |
Live syllable — open or sonorant end
Dead · long syllable — long vowel + stop
Dead · short syllable — short vowel + stop
Change the initial to another class and the same marks produce different tones — that shift is what makes tone a small system, not 44 separate facts. Derive tones on the Tones surface →
Looks like — watch the shape
The tell: ภ grows a tall vertical stem on its right side; ก stays low and compact, with no ascender.ภ is /pʰ/ low · ก is /k/ mid.
The tell: Both have the head-loop — the tell is the right side: ภ ends in a straight tall stem, ถ curves into a tail at body height.ภ is /pʰ/ low · ถ is /tʰ/ high.
Sounds like — watch the spelling
Same initial /pʰ/:
Same final /p/ — identical at a word’s end:
Start at the head — the little loop — then one continuous stroke. Written between the guide lines, the body sits in the middle band.
Indic — Sanskrit bh; mainly loans.
Practice