Sanskrit

[Guest]

In this same vein let me comment on pronunciation of vowels "ai" and "au".

Many people pronounce them as two separate vowels in sequence, viz. "a" then "i", or "a" then "u".

Which is wrong.

Recall that "ai" and "au" are listed independently under vowels and are not two separate vowels put together. If they were two separate vowels there was no need for them having separate symbols. For a single vowel, the shape of the vocal cavity should not change during their pronunciation.

Vowel "ai" is pronounced when the mouth is kept in the configuration when saying the vowel "a" in the english word "bat". This configuration of the mouth is different from "a" or "i", and qualifies to be called a separate vowel. And is different when you say "a" followed by "i".

For the vowel "au", the mouth is kept in the same configuration as when saying "o" in the english word "cot". Which is a distinct configuration of the vocal cavity, and is not same as "a" followed by "u".