Semivowels

Phonetically, a semivowel lies between a vowel and a plosive. In contrast to a vowel, a semivowel does not represent a syllable on its own when articulated. Neither is the vocal tract blocked for the pressure characteristic of a plosive. The tongue moves in the direction of the place of articulation to produce an approximant. In contrast to a fricative, though, the approximation does not go so far as to produce the friction necessary for a fricative. In Sanskrit, there are semivowels for four of the five places of articulation (y, r, l, v).

Sanskrit Pronunciation
Semivowels

Semivowels

Semivowels are very close to the vowels produced at the same place of articulation:

  • i (vowel) - ya (semivowel) - ja (plosive) all three palatal (at the palate)
  • r̥ (vowel) - ra (semivowel) - ḍa (plosive) all three retroflex (with the tongue rolled back)
  • l̥ (vowel) - la (semivowel) - da (plosive) all three dental (with the tongue at the teeth)
  • u (vowel) - va (semivowel) - ba (plosive) all three labial (at the lips)

While vowel sounds on its own, the semivowel forms almost automatically when we add an "a". If the contact is intensified on articulation, the voiced plosive is produced.

In Sanskrit, the sound change from vowel to semivowel happens via the Sandhi rules. In other languages, semivowels often turn into plosives.

Sanskrit Pronunciation
Gutturals Gutturals

Gutturals

Gutturals are produced deep down at the back of the oral cavity, at the bridge of the soft palate and the throat. In Sanskrit, there are guttural vowels (a / ā), plosives (k,kh,g,gh), nasals (ṅ) and fricatives (h). There is no guttural semivowel.

Guttural semivowel

In Sanskrit, there is no guttural semivowel.

Sanskrit Pronunciation
Palatals Palatals

Palatals

Palatals are produced by a vibration or stricture at the palate. In Sanskrit, there is a palatal for each sound class: vowel (i / ī), plosive (c,ch,j,jh), nasal(ñ), semivowel (y) and fricative (ś).

Palatal semivowel

  • ya: produced by bringing the tongue closer to the palate (palatal).

Beispiele:

  • ya: ja, Sanskrit: Yoga
    Pronounced like a German j, not like a y as in Yvonne.
Sanskrit Pronunciation
Retroflexes Retroflexes

Retroflexes

The retroflexes characteristic of the Sanskrit language are produced with the tongue rolled back behind the teeth: vowel (r̥, r̥̄), plosive (ṭ,ṭh,ḍ,ḍh), nasal (ṇ), semivowel (r) and fricative (ṣ).

Retroflex semivowel

  • ra: Produced by bringing the tongue closer to the back of the teeth (retroflex).

Examples:

  • ra: Rollen, rot
    A rolling r as commonly used in Southern Germany, or, historically speaking, in Germany as a whole.
Sanskrit Pronunciation
Dentals Dentals

Dentals

In contrast to the corresponding German sounds, the tongue is not positioned at the dental root (alveolar) but almost between the teeth (dental) for: vowels (l̥,l̥̄), plosives (t,th,d,dh), nasals (n), semivowels (l) and fricatives (s).

Dental semivowel

  • la: produced by bringing the tongue closer to the teeth (dental).

Examples:

  • la: Land
    Exactly as in German.
Sanskrit Pronunciation
Labials Labials

Labials

A sound that is produced either at or with the lips is called a labial. In Sanskrit, there are labial vowels (u, ū), plosives (p, ph, b, bh), nasals (m) and semivowels (v). A labial fricative exists only indirectly.

Labial semivowel

  • va: produced by bringing the tongue closer to the lips (labial).

Examples:

  • va: Wasser, wann
    Not like the German v as in Vogel, but like a German w.
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