Indo-Aryan Language Phonology

Retroflex consonants are a distinctive feature of Indo-Aryan languages, formed by curling the tongue back towards the hard palate.

Apocope refers to the loss of final consonants in words, a common phenomenon in Indo-Aryan languages.

The retroflex consonant 'ड़' is pronounced with the tongue curled back towards the hard palate.

Sandhi refers to the changes that occur in the pronunciation of words when they are combined together, including changes in vowel quality.

The nasalized vowel 'অ' is pronounced with the nasal passage open, allowing air to flow through the nose.

Devoicing refers to the loss of voicing in consonants, typically occurring at the end of words in Indo-Aryan languages.

The voiced aspirated consonant 'घ' is pronounced with the vocal cords vibrating and a puff of air released.

Assimilation refers to the process where a nasal consonant influences the pronunciation of a following consonant, making it nasalized.

The palatal consonant 'च' is pronounced with the tongue raised towards the hard palate.

Assimilation refers to the process where the place of articulation of a consonant changes due to the influence of a neighboring consonant.

The geminate consonant 'क्क' is pronounced with two successive pronunciations of the consonant 'क'.

Devoicing refers to the loss of voicing in consonants, typically occurring in certain contexts such as at the end of words or before voiceless consonants.

The voiceless aspirated consonant 'ख' is pronounced with a puff of air released after the consonant.

Insertion refers to the process of adding a vowel between two consonants, often to facilitate pronunciation.

The diphthong 'ऐ' is pronounced as a combination of two vowels, 'अ' and 'इ'.