Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 1.djvu/65

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SACRED BOOKS OF THE EAST.
lv

Approximate Pronunciation of the Roman Letters as representing the Sanskrit Alphabet.

Vowels.
a as in sam
â as in psalm
i as in knit
î as in neat
ri as in fiery
as in
li as in friendly
as in
u as in full
û as in fool
e as in date
ai as in aisle
o as in note
au as in proud
Consonants.
Gutturals.
k as in kite
kh as in inkhorn
g as in gate
gh as in springhead
ṅ (ng) as in sing
h as in hear
Palatals.
k as in church
kh as in church-history
g as in jolly
gh as in bridge-house
ñ as in new
y as in yet
s as in sharp
Dentals.
t as in tin (tip of the tongue striking
the bone of the teeth
)
th as in lanthorn
d as in din
dh as in landholder
n as in nay
l as in let
l as in
s as in grass
Linguals.
t as in town (tip of the tongue striking
alveolar region
)
th as in outhouse
d as in done
dh as in rodhook
n as in no
r as in red
sh as in shun
Labials.
p as in pan
ph as in topheavy
b as in bed
bh as in clubhouse
m as in mill
v as in live
m मं as in Anusvâra (slight
nasal
)
h णः as in Visarga (slight
breathing
)

Proper names have frequently been left in their ordinary spelling, e.g. Râjendra, instead of Râgendra. In words which have almost become English, the diacritical marks have often been omitted, e.g. Rig-veda, instead of Rig-veda; Brahman, instead of Brâhmana; Confucius, Zoroaster, Koran, &c.