Gutturals:
Palatals:
Retrofelxes/Cerebrals:
Dentals:
Labials:
The following chart shows the only two letters that differ
between the Bengali and Assamese scripts. Semivowels:
Sibliants & Aspirate:
This next chart shows the full vowel forms, they appear at the
begining of words, or as the second vowel of diphthongs. Note: An
"S" in parentheses indicates a South Indian vowel -
they sound almost indentical to their Northern counterparts, but
are shorter. The 'regular' E and O in the Southern scripts sound
more drawn out. So, in Southern languages, "o(S)"
sounds like 'Joe' and "o" sounds more like 'co-owner'.
Here are how consonants normally connect with vowels. For example
purposes, the letter "k" is used in all languages.
Each script has a different way of creating consonants
compounds, so be careful! These pages aren't for mastery
in any of these scripts - but maybe to get a start
learning one, or observing the similartites between
scripts.
Consonants followed by an "h" show aspiration
(extra air blown out), so do not pronounce "th"
like 'the', or "ph" like 'phone'.
"V" is sometimes pronounced like 'w'
"C" is pronounced like 'chew' - so
"ch" is like 'thatch-house'
"S'" is prnounced like 'shoe'
"S." is like 'sh' but I've heard it described
as being more chesty than "S'"
Terms:
Guttural - pronounced from the back of the throat
Palatal - pronounced with the tounge against the
roof of the mouth
Retroflex - pronounced with the tounge curled
back and then comng forward
Dental - pronounced with the tip of the tounge
touching the back of the teeth - so the dental
"t" and "d" are softer than
English t's and ds
Labials - pronounced with the lips starting
together
Sibilant - prodicing a sound like 's' or 'sh'
Aspirate - extra air exhaled - (commonly,
differences are hard to tell between most
unaspirated and aspirated consonants in speaking)
