Introduction to Ardhamagadhi

Author(s): A M Ghatage
Publisher: School & College Book Stall

Page 18

S. 5.1
of them do not admit of inflections and are, therefore, called indeclinables.
LANGUAGE-STUDY
5
5 Speaking phonetically, a word may consist of one or more syllables. A syllable is that part of the sound continuum which encloses a peak of sonority and is bounded on both sides by two points of least sonority. In its turn the syllable is made up of two different elements called vowels and consonants. Vowels are either short or long according as the time taken for pronouncing them is brief or long. Consonants on the other hand, are said to be single when they are immediately preceded and followed by a vowel and conjunct when two of them come together without a vowel between them,
The articulate sounds of which the language is made are produced by a stream of air expelled from the lungs and passing through the trachea and forcing its way through the two vocal cords at its upper end and escaping through the mouth or nose or both. The various sounds differ according to the nature of the obstacle to the air passage (Mode of Articulation) and the place in the mouth where the obstacle takes place (Place of Articulation).
When the vocal cords are brought in contact the air sets them in vibration and the result is a voiced sound. But if they are kept apart there results the unvoiced sound or breath. If the voice passes through the mouth without any obstacle, it gives rise to vowels like [i, u, e, o,] etc. differentiated by the size of the resonance chamber formed by the shape of the tongue and the lips. According as the front or the middle or the back part of the tongue is raised the vowels are called front, neutral or back vowels. With or without the protrusion of the lips they become rounded or unrounded. If the voice is made to escape through the nose there result the nasals like [n, m] and if through both mouth and nose the result is the nasal vowel [i, ú]. If the voice is made to undergo an obstruction in the mouth there result the voiced stops like [g. d) (Mediae) and their aspirates like [gh, dĥ]