Phonetics
The term "Swaradi" (स्वरादि) refers to words that start with a vowel in Sanskrit and languages derived from it, like Hindi and Marathi.
In Sanskrit grammar, the classification of words based on their initial sound is important for various phonetic rules and euphonic combinations (sandhi). Swaradi words are treated differently than words starting with consonants (व्यंजनादि - Vyanjanadi) in these grammatical operations.
To be more clear:
- Swar (स्वर) means vowel.
- Adi (आदि) means beginning or starting.
Therefore, Swaradi literally means "beginning with a vowel."
Vowels are classified based on several articulatory features, primarily how the sound is produced in the mouth.
1. Tongue Height: This refers to how high or low the tongue is in the mouth.
- High Vowels: The tongue is raised towards the roof of the mouth (e.g., /i/ as in "fleece", /u/ as in "goose").
- Mid Vowels: The tongue is in an intermediate position (e.g., /e/ as in "dress", /ɔ/ as in "thought").
- Low Vowels: The tongue is lowered in the mouth (e.g., /æ/ as in "trap", /ɑː/ as in "father").
2. Tongue Backness: This refers to how far forward or backward the tongue is in the mouth.
- Front Vowels: The tongue is positioned towards the front of the mouth (e.g., /i/ as in "fleece", /e/ as in "dress").
- Central Vowels: The tongue is in a central position (e.g., /ə/ as in "about", /ɜː/ as in "nurse").
- Back Vowels: The tongue is positioned towards the back of the mouth (e.g., /u/ as in "goose", /ɔ/ as in "thought").
3. Lip Rounding: This refers to whether the lips are rounded or unrounded.
- Rounded Vowels: The lips are rounded during the articulation (e.g., /u/ as in "goose", /ɔ/ as in "thought").
- Unrounded Vowels: The lips are not rounded (e.g., /i/ as in "fleece", /æ/ as in "trap").
4. Tenseness: This refers to the degree of muscle tension in the tongue.
- Tense Vowels: Produced with greater muscle tension and are generally longer (e.g., /i/ as in "fleece", /u/ as in "goose").
- Lax Vowels: Produced with less muscle tension and are generally shorter (e.g., /ɪ/ as in "kit", /ʊ/ as in "foot").
5. Nasality: This refers to whether air escapes through the nose during the articulation.
- Oral Vowels: The velum is raised, blocking airflow through the nose (most English vowels).
- Nasal Vowels: The velum is lowered, allowing air to escape through the nose (common in languages like French).
6. Monophthongs and Diphthongs:
- Monophthongs: Vowels with a single, stable articulation (e.g., /æ/ as in "trap").
- Diphthongs: Vowels that involve a glide from one vowel quality to another within the same syllable (e.g., /aɪ/ as in "price", /ɔɪ/ as in "choice").
These classifications help to describe and differentiate the various vowel sounds in languages.
Vowels are classified based on several articulatory features, primarily focusing on the position of the tongue, the shape of the lips, and the tension of the vocal muscles during their production. Here's a breakdown of the main categories:
1. Tongue Height:
- High Vowels (Close Vowels): The tongue is positioned high in the mouth. Examples include /i/ as in "see" and /u/ as in "too".
- Mid Vowels: The tongue is in a mid position. Examples include /e/ as in "bed" and /ɔ/ as in "caught".
- Low Vowels (Open Vowels): The tongue is positioned low in the mouth. Examples include /æ/ as in "cat" and /ɑ/ as in "father".
2. Tongue Backness:
- Front Vowels: The tongue is positioned towards the front of the mouth. Examples include /i/ as in "see" and /æ/ as in "cat".
- Central Vowels: The tongue is in a central position. Examples include /ə/ as in "about" (schwa).
- Back Vowels: The tongue is positioned towards the back of the mouth. Examples include /u/ as in "too" and /ɑ/ as in "father".
3. Lip Rounding:
- Rounded Vowels: The lips are rounded during the articulation. Examples include /u/ as in "too" and /ɔ/ as in "caught".
- Unrounded Vowels: The lips are not rounded. Examples include /i/ as in "see" and /æ/ as in "cat".
4. Tenseness:
- Tense Vowels: These vowels are produced with more muscular effort and are generally longer in duration. Examples include /i/ as in "beat" and /u/ as in "boot".
- Lax Vowels: These vowels are produced with less muscular effort and are generally shorter in duration. Examples include /ɪ/ as in "bit" and /ʊ/ as in "foot".
These four features (tongue height, tongue backness, lip rounding, and tenseness) are used to describe and classify vowels in different languages. The specific vowels and their phonetic realizations can vary significantly from one language to another.
Note: The symbols used here are from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
In phonetics, the terms "voiced" and "voiceless" describe the state of the vocal cords during the production of a speech sound (a phoneme).
Voiced Sounds:
- Voiced sounds are produced when the vocal cords are vibrating.
- The vibration creates a buzzing sound, which can be felt by placing your fingers on your throat while making the sound.
- Examples of voiced sounds in English include: /b/, /d/, /ɡ/, /v/, /z/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /r/, /w/, /j/, and all vowels.
- To test if a sound is voiced, say the sound and feel your throat. If you feel vibration, it is a voiced sound.
Voiceless Sounds:
- Voiceless sounds are produced when the vocal cords are not vibrating.
- Instead of vibration, air passes through the vocal cords without causing them to vibrate.
- Examples of voiceless sounds in English include: /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /θ/, /s/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/, /h/.
- To test if a sound is voiceless, say the sound and feel your throat. If you don't feel any vibration, it is a voiceless sound.
The distinction between voiced and voiceless sounds is crucial in distinguishing words in many languages, including English. For example, the words "pat" and "bat" differ only in the voicing of the initial consonant (/p/ vs. /b/).
Vowels are sounds made when air flows freely through the vocal tract. In English, the letters a, e, i, o, and u are considered vowels, as well as sometimes y. The sound a vowel makes depends on the shape and position of the tongue and lips.
- Examples:
- The word "apple" has the vowel sound /æ/.
- The word "egg" has the vowel sound /ɛ/.
- The word "ink" has the vowel sound /ɪ/.
- The word "on" has the vowel sound /ɑ/.
- The word "up" has the vowel sound /ʌ/.
Vowels are different from consonants, which are sounds made when airflow is partially or completely blocked.
For more in-depth information, you may refer to these resources: