Gutturals: Palatals: Retrofelxes/Cerebrals: Dentals: Labials: The following chart shows the only two letters that differ between the Bengali and Assamese scripts. Semivowels: Sibliants & Aspirate: This next chart shows the full vowel forms, they appear at the begining of words, or as the second vowel of diphthongs. Note: An "S" in parentheses indicates a South Indian vowel - they sound almost indentical to their Northern counterparts, but are shorter. The 'regular' E and O in the Southern scripts sound more drawn out. So, in Southern languages, "o(S)" sounds like 'Joe' and "o" sounds more like 'co-owner'. Here are how consonants normally connect with vowels. For example purposes, the letter "k" is used in all languages.
Each script has a different way of creating consonants compounds, so be careful! These pages aren't for mastery in any of these scripts - but maybe to get a start learning one, or observing the similartites between scripts.
Consonants followed by an "h" show aspiration (extra air blo
"V" is sometimes pronounced like 'w'
"C" is pronounced like 'chew' - so "ch" is like 'thatch-house'
"S'" is prnounced like 'shoe'
"S." is like 'sh' but I've heard it described as being more chesty than "S'"
Terms:
Guttural - pronounced from the back of the throat
Palatal - pronounced with the tounge against the roof of the mouth
Retroflex - pronounced with the tounge curled back and then comng forward
Dental - pronounced with the tip of the tounge touching the back of the teeth - so the dental "t" and "d" are softer than English t's and ds
Labials - pronounced with the lips starting together
Sibilant - prodicing a sound like 's' or 'sh'
Aspirate - extra air exhaled - (commonly, differences are hard to tell between most unaspirated and aspirated consonants in speaking)