Guest guest Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 I do not understand how to pronounce Sanskrit when it is written with some letters mid-word or end-word capitalized. How is the subject line to be pronounced? Why is the "a" on the end of "Lalitha" capitalized? I would guess it means that is the syllable to emphasize, accented by the capital letter. But when I try to say the words like that, I think they don't sound right, and probably aren't, so I'm asking this basic question. , "NMadasamy" <nmadasamy@s...> wrote: > > > niskriyA : Without action. > > Because she is without action, whether ordained or prohibited. The > Sruti [chA. Up., VIII. 12.1] "Only one who has no body is unaffected by > likes and dislikes." > > Or the expression may mean, one who has become the actor and the > cause, ,etc., without the two means of action [material and > instrumental causes]. For the Visnu Pr. says, "Just as the fragrant > object is enough by its very presence to distract the mind, so does the > Supreme Lord without help [the creation of the universe]." > > > BhAskarAya's Commentary. > Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 Hello Mary Ann The capital A actually represents a long vowel sound, like the "a" in "father". The usual way of showing this in print is by putting a horizontal line over the "a". Om Shantih Colin , "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61> wrote: > > I do not understand how to pronounce Sanskrit when it is written > with some letters mid-word or end-word capitalized. How is the > subject line to be pronounced? Why is the "a" on the end > of "Lalitha" capitalized? I would guess it means that is the > syllable to emphasize, accented by the capital letter. But when I > try to say the words like that, I think they don't sound right, and > probably aren't, so I'm asking this basic question. > > , "NMadasamy" <nmadasamy@s...> > wrote: > > > > > > niskriyA : Without action. > > > > Because she is without action, whether ordained or prohibited. The > > Sruti [chA. Up., VIII. 12.1] "Only one who has no body is > unaffected by > > likes and dislikes." > > > > Or the expression may mean, one who has become the actor and the > > cause, ,etc., without the two means of action [material and > > instrumental causes]. For the Visnu Pr. says, "Just as the > fragrant > > object is enough by its very presence to distract the mind, so > does the > > Supreme Lord without help [the creation of the universe]." > > > > > > BhAskarAya's Commentary. > > Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2005 Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 I think someone has actually told me this before, and I didn't get it then either. I thought that a horizontal line over a vowel, making an "a" long, for example, creates the sound as in "late" rather than "father," and if over an "o," like the "o" in "over" vs. the "o" in "off." I need to check that out in a dictionary. But is there a difference between the sound of the first "a" in Lalitha and the second? I have seen phonetic spellings of "hathayoga" recently that say "huthayoga" so maybe the first "a" is pronounced the way we pronounce "u" in "hut" ?? Either way, from what you are saying, I understand that the caps don't indicate syllabic emphasis at all, just whether the vowel is long or short. I think it would be valuable to have syllabic emphasis indicated, too, for those of us "phonetic" Sanskrit readers , "colin777au" <colinr@z...> wrote: > > Hello Mary Ann > > The capital A actually represents a long vowel sound, like the "a" > in "father". The usual way of showing this in print is by putting a > horizontal line over the "a". > > Om Shantih > Colin > > > , "Mary Ann" > <buttercookie61> wrote: > > > > I do not understand how to pronounce Sanskrit when it is written > > with some letters mid-word or end-word capitalized. How is the > > subject line to be pronounced? Why is the "a" on the end > > of "Lalitha" capitalized? I would guess it means that is the > > syllable to emphasize, accented by the capital letter. But when I > > try to say the words like that, I think they don't sound right, > and > > probably aren't, so I'm asking this basic question. > > > > , "NMadasamy" > <nmadasamy@s...> > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > niskriyA : Without action. > > > > > > Because she is without action, whether ordained or prohibited. > The > > > Sruti [chA. Up., VIII. 12.1] "Only one who has no body is > > unaffected by > > > likes and dislikes." > > > > > > Or the expression may mean, one who has become the actor and the > > > cause, ,etc., without the two means of action [material and > > > instrumental causes]. For the Visnu Pr. says, "Just as the > > fragrant > > > object is enough by its very presence to distract the mind, so > > does the > > > Supreme Lord without help [the creation of the universe]." > > > > > > > > > BhAskarAya's Commentary. > > > Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 Hello Mary Ann > I think someone has actually told me this before, and I didn't get > it then either. I thought that a horizontal line over a vowel, > making an "a" long, for example, creates the sound as in "late" > rather than "father," and if over an "o," like the "o" in "over" vs. > the "o" in "off." I need to check that out in a dictionary. What Max said is right. For writing Sanskrit words, the horizontal line is used in a different way than an English dictionary would use it to show pronunciation of English words. >But is > there a difference between the sound of the first "a" in Lalitha and > the second? I have seen phonetic spellings of "hathayoga" recently > that say "huthayoga" so maybe the first "a" is pronounced the way we > pronounce "u" in "hut" ?? Yes, you have it. The difference between "a" and "A" in Sanskrit is actually greater than for the other Sanskrit vowels. > Either way, from what you are saying, I understand that the caps > don't indicate syllabic emphasis at all, just whether the vowel is > long or short. That is basically right. Although in Sanskrit there is actually some connection between vowel length and syllabic emphasis! What is really crucial is this --- in the Sanskrit language the difference between long and short vowels can mean the difference between one word and another. E.g. Lord Siva has a short vowel at the end of his name, whereas Goddess SivA has a long vowel. Another example. Many books (written by people who dont know enough Sanskrit, though they may be wise and learned in other ways) say or imply that the name of the Kali Yuga is the same word as "Kali" the Goddess. The thing is, the name of the Goddess is more accurately written KAlI, with two long vowels. The Kali in Kali Yuga has two short vowels.. He sometimes turns up in Indian mythology as a masculine figure, a sort of demigod. >I think it would be valuable to have syllabic > emphasis indicated, too, for those of us "phonetic" Sanskrit > readers I might return to this one tomorrow... Best wishes Colin > , "colin777au" <colinr@z...> > wrote: > > > > Hello Mary Ann > > > > The capital A actually represents a long vowel sound, like the "a" > > in "father". The usual way of showing this in print is by putting > a > > horizontal line over the "a". > > > > Om Shantih > > Colin > > > > > > , "Mary Ann" > > <buttercookie61> wrote: > > > > > > I do not understand how to pronounce Sanskrit when it is written > > > with some letters mid-word or end-word capitalized. How is the > > > subject line to be pronounced? Why is the "a" on the end > > > of "Lalitha" capitalized? I would guess it means that is the > > > syllable to emphasize, accented by the capital letter. But when > I > > > try to say the words like that, I think they don't sound right, > > and > > > probably aren't, so I'm asking this basic question. > > > > > > , "NMadasamy" > > <nmadasamy@s...> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > niskriyA : Without action. > > > > > > > > Because she is without action, whether ordained or prohibited. > > The > > > > Sruti [chA. Up., VIII. 12.1] "Only one who has no body is > > > unaffected by > > > > likes and dislikes." > > > > > > > > Or the expression may mean, one who has become the actor and > the > > > > cause, ,etc., without the two means of action [material and > > > > instrumental causes]. For the Visnu Pr. says, "Just as the > > > fragrant > > > > object is enough by its very presence to distract the mind, so > > > does the > > > > Supreme Lord without help [the creation of the universe]." > > > > > > > > > > > > BhAskarAya's Commentary. > > > > Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 Hello Colin: Thank you for the informative post on Sanskrit. It will definitely help me in sounding out the various phrases, mantras, and words that are posted on the message board here. I have learned pronunciation by singing bhajans, chanting, and learning hathayoga asana names, but it is good to know what is meant by the ways the letters of the language are shown in print. The other thing is, of course, that the letters we are reading and posting in for the various Sanskrit words aren't the letters of Sanskrit, so really, it's all phonetic, isn't it? I am sure someone else made this point before, and I am glad to be understanding it now. Om Amma Shivaya, Mary Ann , "colin777au" <colinr@z...> wrote: > > Hello Mary Ann > > > I think someone has actually told me this before, and I didn't get > > it then either. I thought that a horizontal line over a vowel, > > making an "a" long, for example, creates the sound as in "late" > > rather than "father," and if over an "o," like the "o" in "over" > vs. > > the "o" in "off." I need to check that out in a dictionary. > > What Max said is right. > > For writing Sanskrit words, the horizontal line is used in a > different way than an English dictionary would use it to show > pronunciation of English words. > > >But is > > there a difference between the sound of the first "a" in Lalitha > and > > the second? I have seen phonetic spellings of "hathayoga" recently > > that say "huthayoga" so maybe the first "a" is pronounced the way > we > > pronounce "u" in "hut" ?? > > Yes, you have it. The difference between "a" and "A" in Sanskrit is > actually greater than for the other Sanskrit vowels. > > > Either way, from what you are saying, I understand that the caps > > don't indicate syllabic emphasis at all, just whether the vowel is > > long or short. > > That is basically right. > > Although in Sanskrit there is actually some connection between vowel > length and syllabic emphasis! > > What is really crucial is this --- in the Sanskrit language the > difference between long and short vowels can mean the difference > between one word and another. > > E.g. Lord Siva has a short vowel at the end of his name, whereas > Goddess SivA has a long vowel. > > Another example. Many books (written by people who dont know enough > Sanskrit, though they may be wise and learned in other ways) say or > imply that the name of the Kali Yuga is the same word as "Kali" the > Goddess. > > The thing is, the name of the Goddess is more accurately written > KAlI, with two long vowels. > > The Kali in Kali Yuga has two short vowels.. He sometimes turns up > in Indian mythology as a masculine figure, a sort of demigod. > > >I think it would be valuable to have syllabic > > emphasis indicated, too, for those of us "phonetic" Sanskrit > > readers > > I might return to this one tomorrow... > > Best wishes > Colin > > > > > > > , "colin777au" <colinr@z...> > > wrote: > > > > > > Hello Mary Ann > > > > > > The capital A actually represents a long vowel sound, like > the "a" > > > in "father". The usual way of showing this in print is by > putting > > a > > > horizontal line over the "a". > > > > > > Om Shantih > > > Colin > > > > > > > > > , "Mary Ann" > > > <buttercookie61> wrote: > > > > > > > > I do not understand how to pronounce Sanskrit when it is > written > > > > with some letters mid-word or end-word capitalized. How is the > > > > subject line to be pronounced? Why is the "a" on the end > > > > of "Lalitha" capitalized? I would guess it means that is the > > > > syllable to emphasize, accented by the capital letter. But > when > > I > > > > try to say the words like that, I think they don't sound > right, > > > and > > > > probably aren't, so I'm asking this basic question. > > > > > > > > , "NMadasamy" > > > <nmadasamy@s...> > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > niskriyA : Without action. > > > > > > > > > > Because she is without action, whether ordained or > prohibited. > > > The > > > > > Sruti [chA. Up., VIII. 12.1] "Only one who has no body is > > > > unaffected by > > > > > likes and dislikes." > > > > > > > > > > Or the expression may mean, one who has become the actor and > > the > > > > > cause, ,etc., without the two means of action [material and > > > > > instrumental causes]. For the Visnu Pr. says, "Just as the > > > > fragrant > > > > > object is enough by its very presence to distract the mind, > so > > > > does the > > > > > Supreme Lord without help [the creation of the universe]." > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > BhAskarAya's Commentary. > > > > > Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 11, 2005 Report Share Posted April 11, 2005 > > Om Amma Shivaya, > > Mary Ann > Mary Ann -- what is this supposed to mean? If it were "Om Amman Shivaya," it would mean "I give Amma to Shiva." Don't give away my Guru! -- Len Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.