Dear Christine, and All

How are you, Dhamma friends?

The letter 'v' in Pali should be pronounced exactly as the letter 'v'
in English.

Here is a quote from the traditional Pali grammar.

"Vakaaro danto.t.thajo."

"Va sound is dentally and labially produced."

Section 2, Saññaavidhaana, Sandhika.n.da, Padaruupasiddhi By
Buddhappiyo.

Section 2, Terminology, Chapter on Sandhi, "Finished Forms" By
Buddhappiyo. This work is a commentary on Kaccaayana's Grammar.

Here is my commentary.

"Va" sound is (danto.t.thajo) produced by pressing upper teeth on the
lower lip.

Myanmars pronounce "v" as "w" because Myanmar script "o" represents
both "v" for Pali and "w" for Burmese sounds, which do not include
the "v" sound.

So when Myanmars, who do not check the Pali grammar texts, see the
Myanmar script "o" for "v" in Pali texts, they pronounce it as though
it were "w".


With kind regards,

Suan

http://www.bodhiology.org


--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "christine_forsyth" <cforsyth@...>
wrote:

> Dear Group,
>
> I'm learning a few verses of the Dhammapada by heart

(197,198,199).

> In verse 197 - are all the 'v's pronounced as 'w's, or only all
> the 'v's starting a word, or something else?
>
> Susukham vata jivama
> Happy indeed we live
>
> verinesu averino
> friendly amidst the hostile
>
> verinesu manussesu
> amidst hostile men
>
> viharama averino
> we dwell free from hatred
>
> metta,
> Christine