Pronunciation and Phonetics

Learning proper pronunciation can be done without much knowledge of phonetics, actually. A basic knowledge, however, helps to make pronunciation clearer and thus facilitates the process of learning how to speak a foreign language properly.

eAmbalam introduces a phonetic chart which is based on Dhevanagari script. The sounds of vowels and consonants and other speech sounds in Sanskrit and the languages which have completely or mostly borrowed from it can be covered with the help of the chart. A few other sounds common to some languages in this group and outside are also put in. Unique sounds of some languages are specified too.

Diacritical marks are used to aid perfect pronunciation. World over, these marks have been created and propagated by scholars to make understanding of the differences in speech sounds in different languages better. Team eAmbalam also has created a phonetic chart which helps even first timers to pronounce words accurately.

Our Phonetic chart is unique, comprehensive, learner friendly and is divided into four columns wherein:
  • In the first column, the letter is written with the associated diacritical mark.
  • In the second column, an example is given in Dhevanagari language containing the letter.
  • In the third column, an example is given in English, which contains the sound closes to the letter or instructions in few cases, to facilitate better understanding.
  • In the fourth column, an audio button is placed with the help of which you can hear the actual pronunciation of the letter.
An open minded approach with the above introduction and guidelines will definitely enable the user to understand the speech sounds of any language and pronounce it like a native, which is eAmbalam’s aim in this exercise.

  VOWELS  
Syllable Usage in Sanskrit Usage in English
A or a Aḍavu Arise
Ā or ā Ānanda Vast
I or i Indhira Sing
Ī or ī Īśha Meal
U or u U ṣhā Good
Ū or ū Ū rdhhva Boost
R or r Riṣh i Try
Ṛ or ṛ Ni ṛ uti Grr!
Lr or lr   Pronounce L and R together.
E or e Eka Ate
AI or ai Aikya Sight
O or o Ojas Robe
AU or au Audh ā rya Now
A M or am Śhiva m Drum
A HA or aha R ā ma ha Aha!
Syllable Usage in Sanskrit Usage in English


CONSONANTS
Syllable Usage in Sanskrit Usage in English
KA or ka Kavi Car
KHA or kha Khalu Mark -Him
GA or ga Gamana Gut
GHA or gha Ghata Ugh!
Ṅ A or ṅa Tura ṅ ga Ring
CHA or ca Chakra Chart
CHHA or cha Chhandas Branch
JA or ja Jagath Jug
JHA or jha Jhallari Fudge
NYA or nya Gnyana Knew
Ṭ A or ṭ Ṭ anka Top
ṬHA or ṭha Pāṭha Pothole
ḌA or da Ḍ amaruka Dog
Ḍ HA or ḍ ha Mūḍ ha Madhouse
Ṇ A or ṇ a Ga ṇ a Wander
THA or tha Thanu Health
THHA or thha Athha Theater
DHA or dha Dha śha This
DHHA or dhha Dhhana m Dha with an additional H sound
NA or na Namask ā raha Nut
PA or pa   Path ā ka Past
PHA or pha Phala m P with a H sound
BA or ba Bandhhu Ball
BHA or bha Bhadra Abhor
MA or ma Manas Money
YA or ya Yama Yummy
RA or ra Rajas Rub
LA or la Lath ā Lust
VA or WA, va /wa A śh va or A śhwa Water/Valour
ŚHA or śha Śhakthi Shutter
ṢHA or ṣ ha Ṣh a ṇ mukha Shunt
SA or sa Sarasvatī Sun
HA or ha Hari Hum
Ḷ A or ḷ a Ar āḷ a Bold
KṢHA or k ṣ ha Ak ṣh i Try to pronounce Ka, Sa & Ha – all at one time.
Extra Vowels in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada & Malayalam Scripts    
É or é Éṇi Angel
Ō or ō Ō m Ō M
ZHA Exclusive to Tamil & Malayalam Fold the tip of your tongue backwards and try to pronounce it with the aid of the audio button.
Syllable Usage in Sanskrit Usage in English

Lyrics and Meanings (Sloka)

Śhloka is a term derived from Sanskrit. Śhloka is a verse, phrase, proverb or hymn of praise dedicated to the God.

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Lyrics and Meanings (Sloka)

Śhloka is a term derived from Sanskrit. Śhloka is a verse, phrase, proverb or hymn of praise dedicated to the God. Śhlokas are usually composed in a specific meter. Śhloka is a verse of two lines, each of sixteen syllables. Usually the Śhloka selected is from our ancient Purāṇas or epics - Ithihāsa - and is set to a particular rāga and thāḷa.

The dancer would give expression to the bhāva that is underlying in the Śhloka, bringing out the deeper meaning laden in it. They may even construct swaras for the Śhloka and dance to them or they would perform a Thīrmānam for them. If there is no scope for Sanchāri Bhāva in the Śhloka, then the artiste would perform to the swaras in the rāga and execute thīrmānas or nruttha, accordingly, bringing out the qualities of the manifestation of God in whose praise the Śhloka is set.

The Śhloka is always centered on this mood of serenity, and is associated with devotion. It is the state in which a man transcends from his state of mind and is transported closest to the Divine, to the Supreme and the Ultimate. Though the Śhloka selected is mostly written in Sanskrit, the artistes usually select verses from the language of the particular region, or of their choice.

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Pullāi pirandhālum

 

Composer: Gopālakriṣhṇa Bhārathi (Not very sure – could be Ūtthukāḍu Véṅkaṭasubbaiyer)
Language: Thamizh

Meanings - Word by word: Team Ambalam

Meanings - Overall: Śhyāma Priya, USA, http://fullcircle.hummaa.com

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

 

 

Pullāi pirandhālum Mirugādhi Jananaṅgaḷ Pasiyāri Magizhum Andro
Punḍāi Pirandhālum Pulatthiyargaḷ Konḍu Sila Piṇi Thīrthu Magizhvārandro
Kallai Pirandhālum Nallavargaḷ Miḍi Konḍu Kāṭchi Koḍutthiḍamandro
Kazhudhai Uruvāga Vandhālum Āvena Katthināl Kaikanḍa Sagunam Enbār
Ivai Ellām Illāmale Ippiravi Thandhu Ennaiyénga Viṭṭu(Viṭṭāi) Agala Nindrāi
Etthanai Piravi Varumō Appane Thillai Nagar Vāzh Naṭarājane
Īśhane Śhivakāmi Nésané Appané

 

Pullāi – as grass;

pirandhālum – if one were to be born;

Mirugādhi – the animals and others;

 Jananaṅgaḷ - living beings;

Pasiyāri – to satisfy hunger;

Magizhum – be happy;

Andro – is it not so? ;

Pūnḍāi – garlic;

Pirandhālum – if one were to be born;

 Pulatthiyargaḷ - the sages;

 Konḍu – to take;

Sila – for some;

Piṇi – disease;

Thīrthu – to heal;

 Magizhvārandro – they become happy;
Kallāi Pirandhālum – even if one were to be born as a stone;

 Nallavargaḷ - the good people;

Miḍi – feet;

 Konḍu – having placed;

 Kāṭchi – the sight of god;

Koḍutthiḍamandro – to give them the chance;
Kazhudhai – donkey;

Uruvāga Vandhālum-  come in the form;

 Āvena Katthināl – if one brays;

 Kaikanḍa – wished for;

Sagunam –omen;

 Enbār- will say;
Ivai Ellām – all these;

 Illāmale – not having;

 Ippiravi – this lifetime;

 Thandhu-having given;

 Ennaiyénga – making me yearn;

 Viṭṭu(Viṭṭāi) – having left me;

Agala Nindrāi – stood faraway;
Etthanai – how many ever;

Piravi – lives;

Varumō – will they come?

 Appane – o father of all;

Thillai Nagar – the city of Chidhambaram

 Vāzh – resident;

Naṭarājane – oNaṭarājā;
Īśhane – O Śhiva! ;

 Śhivakāmi – Pārvathi;

 Nésané – the love of;

Appané - o father of all;

 

Even if one were to be born as a lowly blade of grass, wouldn’t it be delighted to alleviate the hunger of creatures like deer and others? Even if one were to be born as a stinking piece of garlic, wouldn’t the ancient Rṣhis rejoice when they used it to alleviate some maladies? Even if one were to be born as a stone, wouldn’t it offer good men a vision of the deity by allowing them to place their feet on it? Even if one were to appear in the form of a donkey and bray people will say that it is a desired omen.


My lord, the reigning resident of Chidhambaram, the god who admits me into his good graces after he exterminates the stains of privation that tarnish me! The lord who is worshipped /praised/eulogized by wise men like and others.

O master of dance who resides/revels in the love of Pārvathi! You have given me this supposedly lofty human birth without any of these positive attributes, and have not only left me to languish as I pine/yearn to be useful (and for you as well), but have stood away from me.



 

Note:

        “Kazhudhai katthināl nalla sagunam” means breying of a donkey is considered good omen.

        It is correct that the human birth is the ultimate-'aridhu aridu, manidappiravi aridhu' in Thamizh. But what the composer meant was, all the other things mentioned are themselves useful to others even at the cost of their own life-like when the grass is eaten by the cow, it (grass) loses its life. In this context, man does not do anything for others, unless he is what is described by Thiruvaḷḷuvar as- anbudaiyir enbum uriyār pirarku'- compassionate people will even sacrifice their own bones for the welfare of others.

        The concept here is that is not any odd stone, but a stone that forms a step in the front of a temple, standing on which devotees have their darśhana. The same concept has been enunciated by Śhrī Kulaśhekhara Āzhvār in his pāsuram- cheḍiyaya valvinaigal thīrkum neḍumale, in which he writes of his yearning to be reborn as a step (paḍi) in front of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple at Thirupathi.

 

1 Pullāi Pirandhālum click here












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