Learn Hindi Through Phonology

Communication can be done in so many ways. Most people prefer to perform it verbally while others converge in very unique ways of nonverbal cues and signals. Let’s focus our attention on the process of talking. It may seem like the words simply come out from our mouths but conversing in a foreign language is quite complex. It’s time to learn Hindi through phonology.

Basically phonology is the systematic employment of sound so as to relay certain meanings in any setting via spoken human language which falls under a more specific field of study called linguistics. Let’s take a look at how it is being applied in the world of Hindi. Basically, Hindi makes use of a symmetrical ten-vowel system. Like in any common phonetic setting, there are vowels having short or long length.

The Hindi vowel system follows a nasalized system. This has aroused disagreement with the English system due to the English loaned ae which is not actually nasalized. Among the four views connected with the Hindi vowel system, the concept of nasalized long vowel phonemes occurring in the final part of the word and before a voiceless stop is the one being supported by experts. Moreover, instances of nasalized short vowels and of nasalized long vowels before voiced stops are considered allophonic.

Now let’s head on to the consonants. The Hindi system has a core set of 28 consonants derived from the earlier forms of Indo-Aryan. There have been supplements that are developed to adapt to other variation of languages. Two consonants were established for internal developments in specified word-medial contexts while seven are originally located in loan words. The expressions of the seven consonants depend on factors such as status and cultural register.

Most of the native consonants come in as geminate or double in length. These consonants are always medial and followed by one of the interior vowels. Another characteristic of Hindi consonants is that it contains a four-way distinction of phonation among plosives as compared to the two-way distinction commonly observed within the English system.

The phonations consist of first, tenuis which is the counterpart of p in English as it is used in the word spin. Second is voiced as in the b of English in the word bin. Third is aspirated which can be likened to the p English in pin. The fourth is called murmured otherwise known as voiced aspirate.

The Hindi system has a stress accent which is not that significant when it comes to the English format. The concept of syllable is given utmost importance in order to have efficient identification of stress placement. A light syllable or one mora ends in a short vowel while a heavy syllable or two moras ends in a long vowel. An extra heavy syllable which has three moras ends in a long vowel and a consonant or a short vowel and a pair of consonants.

The Hindi phonology may be a very complex mechanism initially due to its foreign nature but it surely will allow you to learn and appreciate the language at a full extent. This will give you an advantage, having an extra tongue to communicate with. You can also be confident in facing the natives if one day you plan to explore the beauty of the Indian nation.