A History of Indian Literature v2.c18: Directions for Pronunciation of Indian (Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali) Names and Words Written in Roman Characters
A History of Indian Literature v2.c18
- Language
- English
Directions for Pronunciation of Indian (Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali) Names and Words Written in Roman Characters
v2.c18.1
*Pronounce*
v2.c18.2
Vowels a अ as a 'neutral vowel,' like English short *u* in *but* ṛ ऋ as a vowel, like *er* in Scots English *baker*. e ए as long *ē* in English *they* and *ō* in English *stone*, without diphthongal character. o ओ as long *ē* in English *they* and *ō* in English *stone*, without diphthongal character.
v2.c18.3
Palatals c च like *ch* in English *child*. j ज like *j* in English *just*.
v2.c18.4
Cerebrals ṭ ट like English 'dentals,' while the Sanskrit dentals t त, th थ, d द, dh ध, n न are pronounced like dentals in Italian and French. ṭh ठ like English 'dentals,' while the Sanskrit dentals t त, th थ, d द, dh ध, n न are pronounced like dentals in Italian and French. ḍ ड like English 'dentals,' while the Sanskrit dentals t त, th थ, d द, dh ध, n न are pronounced like dentals in Italian and French. ḍh ढ like English 'dentals,' while the Sanskrit dentals t त, th थ, d द, dh ध, n न are pronounced like dentals in Italian and French. ṇ ण like English 'dentals,' while the Sanskrit dentals t त, th थ, d द, dh ध, n न are pronounced like dentals in Italian and French.
v2.c18.5
Sibilants ś श (palatal) like *sh* in English *ship*. ṣ ष (cerebral) like *sh* in English *ship*.
v2.c18.6
Nasals ṅ ङ (guttural) like *ng* in English *sing*. ñ ञ (palatal) like *gn* in French *montagne* ṃ (Anusvāra) like *n* in French *Jean*. ḥ (Visarga) "a surd breathing, a final *h*-sound (in the European sense of *h*) uttered in the articulating position of the preceding vowel."—*Whitney*.