Telugu is my native language. Here's how I learnt it. There's two types of letters. One type is used as an addendum to the other type. The first type are calle

Telugu is my native language. Here's how I learnt it. There's two types of letters. One type is used as an addendum to the other type. The first type are called vowels and the second consonants (I'd say that's mischaracterization but whatever). In this[1] picture, the top half of the alphabets are the type which are the addendum part, and the bottom part are the 'primary' ones. So how it goes is that one of the bottom always comes with one on the top. Most often it tends to be the very first vowel, which is pronounced 'a:', and it is the default way letters are learnt(pronunciation chart[2] for each of the vowels). So each of the consonants (the bottom part) can be used with any one on the top. Let's take the very first consonant. It is pronounced 'ka'(because by default, consonants are accompanied with the first 'vowel' which is 'a:'). Now, lets take a look at the the bottom part of picture [2]. That same consonant is pronounced differently when accompanied with each of the first one. For example: kaa, kee, kuu, etc. The first half the the pronunciation is the same, but the second half, is replaced which whatever vowel's symbol is attached as an addendum. Also notice the the center part of the alphabet hardly changes visually between changes in vowels. Not to throw a lot at once, but there's another part. Each of the consonants can again be used as addendum to any other consonant (which always comes with a vowel). Take a look at this[3]. Notice the little tick at the top you saw in [2] is still there? That picture contains the letters 'ka', which each of the consonants being tacked on. The vowel is always still there. That's because, as I said consonants always come with a vowel attached. The consonant addendum is optional though. Congratulations, you can now pronounce (almost all of) Telugu (and almost any Devanagari script using this same play book). It is because these scripts are deterministic, and there is a single pronunciation unlike English and many other languages. [1]:https://www.telugucorner.com/images/aksharamulu.jpg https://www.telugucorner.com/images/aksharamulu.jpg [2]: https://www.omniglot.com/images/writing/telugu_vwl.gif https://www.omniglot.com/images/writing/telugu_vwl.gif [3]: https://www.omniglot.com/images/writing/telugu_conjuncts.gif https://www.omniglot.com/images/writing/telugu_conjuncts.gif