Devanagari: Difference between revisions

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	] ]		] ]
	'''Devanagari''' is a script used to write some ]n languages, inclucing [[Hindi language \|		'''Devanagari''' is a script used to write some ]n languages, inclucing ], ] and ], as well as ].
	Hindi]], ] and [[Marathi language \|
	Marathi]], as well as ].

	Indian languages written in scripts ''~~<u>~~other than Devanagari~~</u>~~'' include ], ] and ].		Indian languages written in scripts ''other than Devanagari'' include ], ] and ].

	''Deva'' is the Sanskrit for "god", and ''Nagari'' is "a city"; together they mean, literally, "City of the Gods" (when the compound is read as a '']''). This refers to the legend that the script was one used in such a city. So the compound really functions as a '']''. An often-used transcription variant is "Devnagri".		''Deva'' is the Sanskrit for "god", and ''Nagari'' is "a city"; together they mean, literally, "City of the Gods" (when the compound is read as a '']''). This refers to the legend that the script was one used in such a city. So the compound really functions as a '']''. An often-used transcription variant is "Devnagri".

	Devanagari is partly ] in the sense that a word written in it can only be pronounced in one way, but not all possible pronunciations can be written perfectly.		Devanagari is partly ] in the sense that a word written in it can only be pronounced in one way, but not all possible pronunciations can be written perfectly. Devanagari has 34 ] (''vyanjan''), and 12 ] (''svar''). A ] (''akshar'') is formed by the combination of zero or one or more
	Devanagari has 34 ] (''vyanjan''), and 12 ] (''svar''). A ] (''akshar'') is formed by the combination of zero or one or more
	consonants, and one vowel.		consonants, and one vowel.

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	<br>''Note: ] support is required to display these fonts, which may be found .''		<br>''Note: ] support is required to display these fonts, which may be found .''
	</td></tr></table>		</td></tr></table>
	When no vowel is written, 'a' is assumed. To specifically denote the		When no vowel is written, 'a' is assumed. To specifically denote the absence of a vowel, a ''halant'' (also called ''virama'') is used.
	absence of a vowel, a ''halant'' (also called ''virama'') is used.

	<table border="1">		<table border="1">
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	</table>		</table>

	The letters above are pronounced as in English, with the exceptions		The letters above are pronounced as in English, with the exceptions of:
	of:

	<table border="1">		<table border="1">
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	</table>		</table>

	Among these, 'L' is not used in Hindi. The entire set is		Among these, 'L' is not used in Hindi. The entire set is used in Marathi.
	used in Marathi.

	There is no distinction of case, i.e. no uppercase and lowercase		There is no distinction of case, i.e. no uppercase and lowercase letters.
	letters.

	Devanagari digits are written as follows:		Devanagari digits are written as follows:
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			The ] is a lossless transliteration scheme of Devanagari into English. The letters used to represent Devanagari alphabets in this notation have approximately the same pronunciation in English. It is widely used on ]. In ITRANS, the word Devanagari is written as "devanaagarii".
	The ]
	is a lossless transliteration scheme of
	Devanagari into English. The letters used to represent Devanagari
	alphabets in this notation have approximately the same pronunciation
	in English. It is widely used on ].
	In ITRANS, the word Devanagari is written as "devanaagarii".

	Note: "Devanagari" is the most common transliteration. Others are		Note: "Devanagari" is the most common transliteration. Others are "Devnagri", "Devanagri", "Deonagri" (rare).
	"Devnagri", "Devanagri", "Deonagri" (rare).

	==External Links==		==External Links==

Revision as of 17:29, 2 June 2003

Devanagari is a script used to write some Indian languages, inclucing Hindi, Sanskrit and Marathi, as well as Nepali.

Indian languages written in scripts other than Devanagari include Gujarati, Tamil and Urdu.

Deva is the Sanskrit for "god", and Nagari is "a city"; together they mean, literally, "City of the Gods" (when the compound is read as a shashtitatpurusha). This refers to the legend that the script was one used in such a city. So the compound really functions as a bahuvrihi. An often-used transcription variant is "Devnagri".

Devanagari is partly phonetic in the sense that a word written in it can only be pronounced in one way, but not all possible pronunciations can be written perfectly. Devanagari has 34 consonants (vyanjan), and 12 vowels (svar). A syllable (akshar) is formed by the combination of zero or one or more consonants, and one vowel.

Devanagari Vowels and Related Symbols
Vowel	Transliteration	Pronunciation/Note
अ	a	'a' as in about
आ	aa	'a' as in art
इ	i	'i' as in pit
ई	ii	'ee' as in wheel
उ	u	'u' as in put
ऊ	uu	'oo' as in soot
ऋ	RRi
ॠ	RRI
ऌ	LLi
ॡ	LLI
ए	e	'a' as in rate
ऐ	ai
ओ	o
औ	au
ः	aH	visarga
्	halant	suppresses inherent vowel

Note: Unicode support is required to display these fonts, which may be found here.

When no vowel is written, 'a' is assumed. To specifically denote the absence of a vowel, a halant (also called virama) is used.

Devanagari Consonants

क

ख

ग

घ

च

छ

chh

ज

झ

ट

ठ

ड

ढ

ण

त

थ

द

ध

न

प

फ

ब

भ

म

य

र

ल

व

v/w

श

shh

स

ह

ळ

ksh

gy/dny

The letters above are pronounced as in English, with the exceptions of:

Consonant

Pronunciation

ण

'n' with the tongue bent back

त

'th' as in thin, but it's a stop

थ

aspirated version of 't'

द

'th' as in the, but it's a stop

ध

aspirated version of above

ळ

'l' with the tongue bent back

Among these, 'L' is not used in Hindi. The entire set is used in Marathi.

There is no distinction of case, i.e. no uppercase and lowercase letters.

Devanagari digits are written as follows:

Devanagari Digits

०

१

२

३

४

५

६

७

८

९

The ITRANS notation is a lossless transliteration scheme of Devanagari into English. The letters used to represent Devanagari alphabets in this notation have approximately the same pronunciation in English. It is widely used on Usenet. In ITRANS, the word Devanagari is written as "devanaagarii".

Note: "Devanagari" is the most common transliteration. Others are "Devnagri", "Devanagri", "Deonagri" (rare).

External Links

in Devanagari Script and Pronunciation Key