HAS’ANTA / HALANTA - INHERENT 'Á OF CONSONANTS

 

Reference:
“AN EASY APPROACH TO BENGALI”
by Ac. TADGATA’NANDA AVADHU’TA

Published by:
A’nanda Ma’rga Board of Education (ERAWS)
1st Edition, 1971

 

 

CHAPTER II (page 7)

Some specialities in Bengali Pronunciation

1. (a) is pronounced like English ‘a’ in talk, tall, halt, etc. Sometimes it is very short like English ‘o’ in hot, as (Jal) water, (Dhan) wealth, (Ran’) war etc. It is sometimes pronounced like (o) and this is also a short vowel as (Kovi) poet, (Onumati) permission, (Kakhon) when etc.

2. The ending (a) of verbs is often pronounced like (o) as (Karo) do, (Koritecho) (you) are doing, (korlo) (he or they did) etc. But when this final (a) is combined with N and M, (both with has’anta), its pronounciation is dropped, as (Karen) (He) does, (Korchen) (He) is doing, (Korta’m) (I or We) used to do, (Korchila’m) (I) was doing.

3. Final (a) inherent in every consonant is usually omitted from pronunciation (like the last vowel in English), as (Ghar) house, (Kalam) pen, (Ma’nus’) man, (Pa’thor) stone etc. But if the final (a) comes with a conjunct consonant it should be fully pronounced as (Viveka’nanda), (Buddha), (Uma’ka’nta) etc.

4. (a) after (um’) and (ah) is fully pronounced as (Sangha) organisation, (Mam’sa) flesh, (Duhka) sorrow etc.

5. If last consonant is preceeded by (ao) and (ae), then last (a) is fully pronounced as (Maona) Silent, (Taela) oil.

6. In compound words (a) in the end of the first syllable is fully pronounced: as (Gan’a-tantra), (Giita govinda), (Ran’a- d’annka’), (Banava’s), (Rama-krs’n’a)

7. In the adjective ending with kta + it suffix, (a) is fully pronounced: as (Nishcita), (Giita), (Anudita), (Rata), (Mata). But if these words are used as nouns, then pronunciation of (a) will be dropped: as (Giit) song, (Nishcit) certainty, (Mat) opinion.

8. In adjectives ending with (tara & tama pratyaya indicating comparative & superlative degrees), (a) is fully pronounced: as (Laghutara) lower, (Diirghatama) highest.

9. In adjectives ending with letter (r’ha) or in nouns ending with letter (ha) (a) is fully pronounced: as (Gar’ha) deep, (Gur’ha) inner most, (Deha) body, (Viva’ha) marriage.

10. If (ya) is preceeded by (i) or (a), (a) will be fully pronounced as. (Priya) Dear, (Shreya), (Peya) drnkable. (Dey) is an exception where it means gives,. But (a) will be pronounced when it means givable. But in other cases (a) will not be pronounced : as (Vinay), (Vis’ay), Sam’khya’vacak shabda number indicating words.

11. In past tense when (il, l) suffix is used, (a) will be pronounced as (o), as (Korlo), (Dilo)

12. In future tense where (iva) is used (a) will be pronounced like (o) (Korlo),(Devo)

13. In habitual past tense (a) will be like (ta) as in (Korto) (Dito) etc.

14. In imperative mood (a) will as (o), as in (Koro), (Dhoro)

15. If (a) is succeeded by (i), (u), (Va-phala) and (Ks’a), then (a) will be pronounced as (o) as: (Oti), (Vosu), (Boluk), (Okkhi), (Bosya). If (a) is used before any word in the negative sense then inspite of presence of (i), (u), its pronounciation will not be like (o), then it will be like (a) as in law, all etc. as (Asthir) not (Osthir), (Anucita), (Anukta), (Atulaniiya), (Anitya)

16. Words ending with suffix ‘n’ will be fully pronounced as, (Drutaga pathe)