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From:
Subject: Re: [ABOUT WORDS] Fw: [GSN] CHRISTMAS, SANTA CLAUS
Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2006 06:26:32 EST



I have worked with a few engineers from India. I have noticed that when they
would become excited, they would sometimes say a "V" for a "W" somewhat like
a German speaker would do.

We tend to think of that as stemming from a Germanic language group speaker r
ather than Indian or Sanskrit.

Harsh, is that common?

Fred
==================================

In a message dated 1/7/2006 10:35:55 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
writes:

From: "Alana " <Thanks Harsh. Appears to be little doubt SANTA - SAINT -
SINT - SANT/SUNT are cognate.But as you say SANAT means ETERNAL, so my next
question whether the SNT consonants of SANT are the same SNT consonants of
SANAT. You know like in Greek where you've got little o omicron and big o
omega, I'm wondering does
Skt have big s and little s etc.
------------------

I don't think I've answered this, have I? Yes, the consonants are the same,
but the difference is in the pronunciations of the words. SANT would rhyme
with 'punt' 'hunt' etc. In Sanskrit, we give full value to a sound when the
consonant is mixed with a vowel. Otherwise, it has only a half-value. In
[sun't], as you can see, the N has half value and it joins with the next
consonant T.

SANAT is pronounced sunu't -- you give full value to N and that makes the
sound different. The sound of T in both words is like the French 'tete'. No,
we don't have the small and big letters - but since the English language
doesn't have all the sounds, for phonetic transcription, sometimes such
tricks are used. There are two sounds of 'sh', 'n', 'ch', 't' etc. and it
becomes difficult to transcribe the exact one when you don't have a
corresponding sound and symbol in English. This is like the hard and soft g
or c -- cat/ice, gun/George -- you get it? I know of a site where this is
explained fully. I'll findout the URL. Plus, you can also consult the IPA
chart.

Cheers,

--- Harshawardhan Nimkhedkar
Nagpur, India








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