--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "Peter Constable" <petercon@...>
wrote:

> > From: Richard Wordingham [mailto:richard.wordingham@...]
>
>
> > > It's not actualy <mai han-akat>, but <sara a> that combines with
> > > <sara e> and <sara ae> to shorten them.
> >
> > Drat! I thought I'd checked the chart. When I learnt the name, I
> > was told that the two vowels had the same name
>
> Next time, get a better teacher ;-)

It was 'The fundamentals of the Thai Language' by Campbell and
Shaweevongs, very good value at 255 baht (early 90's). They wrote:

'-Ð This is a very short "a" as in "sofa". It is represented in the
transliteration by "A".
...
'- Ñ This vowel is called MῩHUNAHGAHT and is considered by Thai
scholars as being the same vowel as the vowel - Ñ above, but is always
used in place of it when there is a final consonant.'

Richard.