Transcript Timer Test - Sri Bharati

• Why this session ?
• Context and background
• Basic Pronunciation Rules
• Mechanics of articulation
• Alphabet groups and pronunciation
• Pronunciation exceptions
• Examples and vernacular influence
• Chanting if time permits
• Devotion vs pronunciationsribharati.org
vs meaning
1
Sanskrit Phonetics - Context
• अमंत्रमक्षरं नास्ति नास्ति मल
ू मनौषधम ् ।
अयोग्यः परु
ल ः ॥
ु षो नास्ति योजकतित्र दल
ु भ
•
•
•
•
Pronunciation / Sound – Life Breath
Grammar – Mouth
Meter ( Chandas ) – Feet
Meaning – Ears
• Sadba and Artha – 2 wings
• Body is called Daivi Veena – the unique gift of speech must
be put to good use for the well-being of the world.
sribharati.org
2
Sanskrit Phonetics - Context
• Veda is the root of all knowledge
• Vedic language is called chandas
• Rishis authored the 6 vedangas to unlock the Veda
• Shiksha is the first vedanga which deals with Vedic phonetics
• PrAtishAkhya rules govern the pronunciation in each of the
1131 branches of the Veda
• Chandas gave rise to Classical sanskrit
• 50 Sanskrit letters have been derived from Vedic Sounds
sribharati.org
3
Sanskrit Phonetics
• What guides the right pronunciation ?
• Each of the 1131 branches of Veda has its own “right”
pronunciation, guided by the prAtishAkhya texts
• Depending on which branch of the Veda is popular in a
certain region, that region picked up that pronunciation
• e.g agnimeeLe vs agnimeezhe vs agnimeeDhe
• Yat puruSheNa haviShA
• Since 1 classical sanskrit has been derived from many vedic
branches, many “right” pronunciations are in vogue for it
sribharati.org
4
Shiksha rules
• VarNa – Enunciation of letters in isolation and in groups
• Svara – Tonal Accuracy ( High, Medium , Low )
• MAtrA – Duration ( 1/8 – 3 )
• Balam – Pitch / effort ( 7 notes )
• SAma – Evenness, melody , free of errors
• SantAna – Compounding of independent letters ( Sandhis )
sribharati.org
5
Production of Sound
• Air Stream Mechanism
• Organs of Speech
• Points of articulation
• Immobile
Mobile
• Manners of articulation
• Internal
External
• Position of Glottis
• Open
Closed
• Semi-Closed Whisper
• Position of Velum
• Open
Closed
• Semi-Closed
sribharati.org
6
Alphabet Groups and Pronunciation
Swara
Vyanjana
-V-A
-V+A
+V-A
+V+A
Anunaa
asika
Antastha
Ushman
7
Pronunciation rules – contd….
• AnusvAra – Pure nasal
• Visarga
•
•
•
•
Visarjaneeya - Visarga
UpadhmAneeya – Visarga + p or ph
JihvAmUlIya – Visarga + k or kh
Visarga + ksha
• Avagraha – e.g : कोऽपप
• La , Ksha , Tra , J~na
व्याघ्री यथा हरे ि ् पत्र
ु ान ् दं ष्ट्राभयां न च पीडयेि ् ।
भीिा पिनभेदाभयां िद्वद् वर्ालन ् प्रयोजयेि ् ॥
Delicate + Firm
sribharati.org
Pronunciation exceptions
• UpadhmAnIya - f
• Brahma, Vahni, madhyAhnam, Ahnikam
• Svara bhakti
• e.g : indra vs. ind’ra
• la vs. La
• Nalini , kala , kalika, pralaya
• anusvAra + Consonant = Corresponding AnunAsika
•
•
•
•
•
शङ्कर - शंकर
अञ्जन - अंजन
ब्रह्माण्ड - ब्रह्मांड
अन्िक - अंिक
परम्परा - परं परा
sribharati.org
9
Vernacular influence
Tamil
1
1
13
Common mistakes
Accurate
Inaccurate
alpa prANa,
mahA prANa
kara, khara , cala,chala ,
paTa,paTha , dAma, dhAma
ph
Phalam
Falam
th,dh
Ratha, Katham,
dAsarathi
Radha, Kadham,
dAsaradhi
r
karma
kaRma
No rolling / Hypercorrection
R
Amrta
Amrita,hridaya,
Amruta,hrudaya
Between I and u
ai
Saraswatyai ( NI )
Saraswatyai ( SI )
sha
Like cha
Shiva,shankara ,Tapaschame,
Rashana,rasana
Sha
Like Ta
dhanuShTankara, uShas
sa
Like ta
manastApam, salilam
visarga
Kavihi v kavihi’
halanta
Rama
Ram
Jna
Yajna, jnanam
Yegna, gnanam, gyan
dy
Vidya
Vijya
ty
Atyanta
Achyanta
Na , na
sarvANi bhUtAni
sarvAni bhUtAni
sribharati.org
14