Phonetic Description of /ह/

[Shreyas Munshi]

Scholars,

Help, kindly.

What is the phonetic description of the Sanskrit varnamala's  last consonant /ह् / (ह with the halant, that is, from the full- fledged  ह, the constituent vowel अ is killed). When I try to pronounce ह् , I feel it is a glottal fricative. I can not decide whether what i pronounce is voiced or unvoiced.

Submitted with regards.

Shreyas Munshi
shreya...@gmail.com, shreya...@rediffmail.com, shreyas...@rediffmail.com
C202, Mandar Apartments,
120 Ft D P Road,
Seven Bungalows, Versova,
Mumbai 400061. INDIA
Tel Res (91) (22) 26364290
Mobile 9819818197

[Shreyas Munshi]

Scholars,

Kindly help.

What is the phonetic description of / ह/?

Shreyas Munshi
shreya...@gmail.com, shreya...@rediffmail.com, shreyas...@rediffmail.com
C202, Mandar Apartments,
120 Ft D P Road,
Seven Bungalows, Versova,
Mumbai 400061. INDIA
Tel Res (91) (22) 26364290
Mobile 9819818197

[HONGANOUR KRISHNA]

Dear Shreyas Munshi,

The Sanskrit consonant /ह्/ (ह with halant) is generally described as a voiced glottal fricative [ɦ]. It is produced at the glottis with turbulent airflow, and unlike the English /h/, which is usually voiceless, Sanskrit /ह्/ is voiced.

• Many learners perceive /ह्/ as somewhere between [h] and [ɦ].

• This is because voicing in glottal fricatives is weaker and less distinct than in oral fricatives. The vibration of the vocal folds can be partial, making it sound “half-voiced.”

• In Sanskrit phonology, however, ह् is classified as voiced.

• In the varṇamālā, ह् is the last consonant, grouped with śa (श), ṣa (ष), and sa (स) as part of the sibilants and aspirates.

So, the correct phonetic description is:

Voiced glottal fricative [ɦ].

Your intuition about it being a glottal fricative is right, and the voicing is present, though subtle compared to other consonants.

Thank you,

HONGANOUR S KRISHNA

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[Shreyas Munshi]

Thank you Honganour S Krishna, Sir, for clearing my doubt 

Regards.

Shreyas Munshi
shreya...@gmail.com, shreya...@rediffmail.com, shreyas...@rediffmail.com
C202, Mandar Apartments,
120 Ft D P Road,
Seven Bungalows, Versova,
Mumbai 400061. INDIA
Tel Res (91) (22) 26364290
Mobile 9819818197

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/samskrita/CAHtV9sbp%3D9xDkCHgOMK8%3DWoLOXCOggv98kXgs66hYjcg%3DWD1mQ%40mail.gmail.com.