english alphabet pronunciation in bengali

অ in অতি, however, does not change the normal Bengali sound, even though accented, as the ই sound follows it. For example, when there is an accent on অ of অত (so much), the অ sounds like 'aw' in raw or like 'a' in ball.

This Oriyā pronunciation of অ is the highest exercise we make in producing the ancient sound, when reading Sanskrit, and this is the sound we produce, when accent is put upon অ not followed by ই or উ sound in a word. The sound in Oriyā is similar to 'a' in ball while we pronounce রবি as Robi, the Oriyās pronounce it as Raw-bi. ( ii) The pronunciation of অ in Oriyā is midway between the Bengali and the Tamil pronunciation. The spelling reformers, moreover, fail to see that the sound of অ as a final, only approaches the sound of ও, and it will be creating confusion, if this sound be made identical with 'ও'. This process may be called wasting the black paint to paint a Negro black. Forgetting this natural mode of pronunciation, some writers unnecessarily write মতো for মত (like), ভালো for ভাল (good), কোনো for কোন (certain), etc. The Bengali sound of অ, as verging upon the sound of 'ও,' is naturally subdued when it is in the beginning or in the middle of a word, but it is distinct at the end of a word, when the final vowel, as a matter of course, is not হসন্ত in sound. The Mundās and the Orāons of Bengal frontier do also pronounce অ as আ short. In Marathi, Canarese, Tamil and Telegu, অ is pronounced as short আ this sound is exactly similar to our short unaccented আ sound as in আমার, আন্দাজ, আচার, etc. This may explain why আ is the long form of অ, as ঈ and ঊ are the long forms of ই and উ.

The sound of it in ancient times, may be presumed to have been like 'u' in but, cut, hut, etc., and so the long sound of this short অ may easily be made into আ (as 'a' in part, calm, large, etc.). অ.-( i) The usual sound of this vowel may be represented by 'o' as it is pronounced in pot, not, hot, etc. The letters of the ancient alphabet, which are not articulated in our pure Bengali speech, and which we keep in stock for the only purpose of representing the words of the ancient languages of India, will be dealt with only briefly. It is a hard work to do but I must make an attempt in this direction, in the hope that my failure may lead to success, by attracting the attention and calling forth the energies of worthier scholars. As such, a comparative study of Bengali phonology should be carefully pursued, though this sort of study involves a detailed consideration of the phonology of not only the ancient Vedic and the post-Vedic languages, but also of the Dravidian accent system. An analysis of the character of our vocalic and consonantal sounds can only lead us to form a definite idea regarding our provincial accent system.

English alphabet pronunciation in bengali