12-14-2005, 10:40 PM
The problem is that Roman script allows only 5 symbols for vowels (a, e, i, o, u).
But if you listen to any one speaking english they actually use a much larger number of vowels while speaking. Remember that a vowel is pronounced when the mouth is put in a certain unchanging configuration with toungue not touching any parts of the vocal cavity and with vocal cords sounding. All those sounds can be called vowels.
Since in practice english speakers end up using a large number of vowels, while using only 5 script symbols to write them, their eye to ear and eye to mouth correlations get thoroughly corrupted.
When they read Sanskrit vowels they can't keep the discipline of pronouncing it the same all the time as it is supposed to be. They start modifying it unconsciously as they would do while speaking english.
Very few people get over this corruption of their toungues. Those who learn phonetics and are particular about it do best.
But if you listen to any one speaking english they actually use a much larger number of vowels while speaking. Remember that a vowel is pronounced when the mouth is put in a certain unchanging configuration with toungue not touching any parts of the vocal cavity and with vocal cords sounding. All those sounds can be called vowels.
Since in practice english speakers end up using a large number of vowels, while using only 5 script symbols to write them, their eye to ear and eye to mouth correlations get thoroughly corrupted.
When they read Sanskrit vowels they can't keep the discipline of pronouncing it the same all the time as it is supposed to be. They start modifying it unconsciously as they would do while speaking english.
Very few people get over this corruption of their toungues. Those who learn phonetics and are particular about it do best.