27 Jun 2006
Here is an article, where I compiled information from various books, it might have been better to put it in the wikipedia, but I have tried to put the pictures there and I failed miserably, so I know this should be easy but ...not for me, so if anyone would like to copy this article in the wikipedia, then please do so, but also leave it here, because if you are like me, I rarely have time to go there.
Aimée
The systematic classification of Hindi sounds is reflected in the alphabet.
First group of sounds are the vowels: a-i-u-e-o (v b m , vks). Each of them has a short and then a long version (which can change the sound). Graphically the long series has a supplementary sign, a line for ? (vk), a feather for ? and ? (vkS ,s), and a hook for ? and ? (Å Ã).
When they are in pair with a consonant, they change completely their graphic form (dependent vowels, see p7 in “teach yourself Hindi”, ISBN 0-340-86687-X: the short a does not appear and is inherent to the consonant, then long a (k), short and long I (f h), short and long u ( q w ), short and long e ( s sS ), short and long o (¨ ©). _ is a letter that appears with the vowels (after long u), and is transcribed as an r with a dot underneath. It is pronounced [kri]
In the dictionary they appear as:
• First nasal (e.g. an/am)
• Then short (a)
• Then long (?)
Then are the consonants, where the air is blocked by a part of the mouth, and released (occlusive). They are classified according to their point of articulation, from the back to the front of the mouth.
• The velars, at the back of the mouth:
First, the unvoiced (the vocal cords don’t vibrate): k (d)
Second, the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: kh (£)
Third the voiced (the vocal cords vibrate): g (like in garden) (x)
Fourth the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: gh (Ä)
Fifth and last, the nasal (nose sound) like in the end of “camping”. (³)
• The palatal, the tongue sticks to the palate:
First, the unvoiced: “tch” (p)
Second, the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: “tchh” (N)
Third the voiced: dj (like in measure) (t)
Fourth the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: djh (>)
Fifth and last, the nasal: the ny, in “one year” the nearest I could find! (´)
• The retroflex, where the tip of the tongue curves against the bump of the palate, just in front of the teeth (alveolar):
First, the unvoiced: t (V)
Second, the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: th (B)
Third the voiced: d (M)
Fourth the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: “dh” (<)
Fifth, a sort of cluck, pronounced between “l” and “r”: “r” (M+)
Sixth, the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: “rh” (<+). Those two last letters are supposed to have a dot below them.
Seventh and last is the nasal. (.k)
• The dentals, tongue against the teeth:
First, the unvoiced: t (r)
Second, the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: th (Fk)
Third the voiced: d (n)
Fourth the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: dh (èk)
Fifth and last, the nasal: n (u)
• The bilabials, the sounds is pronounced between the lips:
First, the unvoiced: p (i)
Second, the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: ph (Q)
Third the voiced: b (c)
Fourth the corresponding consonant, with an aspiration: bh (Ò)
Fifth and last, the nasal: m (e)
• The remaining letters are separate because they are considered as different:
The following ones are considered as semi-vowels, or frictionless, they are very soft: y,r,l,v (sometimes pronounced w). (; j y OK)
The last ones are fricatives, meaning that contrary to the others, there is absolutely no obstacle to the passage of the air through the mouth.
Two are now not really differentiated and are pronounced like the “sh” in “short” (‘k "k)
The snake sound: s (l)
And the last: h the aspirate (g)
The Hindi dictionary is presented in this order. So it is worth spending some time in understanding the articulation system, then instead of 10mn, you will only need 1 or 2mn maximum to find a word, I can tell you this from experience!
There are three more consonants that are not always presented in the alphabet:
“kh” with a dot below is pronounced in the throat (Spanish jota). It is a fricative, and unvoiced. (£+)
“dj” with a dot below is pronounced like a “z”. (t+)
“ph” with a dot below is pronounced like a “f”. (Q+)
There is no difference in their order in the dictionary.
Note this is a guideline and you have to accompany it with a table of the letters (see the explanatory notes of the dictionary p XVII)
As an example, if you look up a word like “farishta”, you know that the “ph” is part of the second series (starting from the back of the mouth to the front of the mouth). You know that “f” is in this section. Then the “a” is short and won’t be shown, you expect he second consonant in devanagri, the “I” being short, it should appear before this consonant “r”. At this point you have probably found your word.
For those desperate to learn Hindi and on their own, the use of the dictionary is very useful, the best one without a doubt is the oxford Hindi-English dictionary by R.S. McGregor, published by Oxford University Press (ISBN 019563846-8, very cheap in India!)
Looking in the dictionary helps with grammar and also understanding the nuances. There are so many Hindi words translated with “world/earth”, I haven’t looked into that one, but there must be a reason…
Please send me a mail to give me an opinion, questions, amendment etc.