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Mukta (The letters alone), Sihari (Row#3 with the prefix sound 'ey') and Aunkar (Row#5 with the suffix sound 'o') have short sounds and not elongated.
The sounds of letters+vowels in rest of the rows is elongated.
A student should be cautious to note which vowels have a short sound and which ones have an elongated one.
The letters ੳ and ੲ do not have a sound by themselves but only with certain vowels. They occur as ਉ, ਊ, ਓ, and ਇ, ਈ, ਏ
Identification of the letter ਅ = Airhaa Sound of the letter ਅ = 'a' as in 'A'merica Full description of the letter ਅ = Airhaa mukta= 'a' The word mukta indicates that the letter is free of any vowels.
Let's practice this row again. Listen and speak afterwards. Note that the letters do not have any vowels with them, hence they are said to be 'Mukta' (free)
Practice by hearing a sound and then saying it yourself. Correctly pronouncing the letters alone is the hardest part so let's practice them again.
Practice speaking Rows 1,3,5 (short sounds) everyday at least 125 times so they can be pronounced optimally.
With less practice, one tends to either pronounce them too short or too long. 'Muharni' means 'Mu' (mouth) 'Harni' (exhausted). Practice until the point you are exhausted of speaking!
Now, with focus, lets practice Row#3 i.e the vowel Sehari. It has a short sound 'ey'. This vowel does not apply to the letters ੳ and ਅ
Let's practice the fifth row i.e. the vowel 'Aunkar' that gives the short sound 'o'. This vowel does not apply to the letters ਅ and ੲ
Let's practice the third time
Now we turn to the vowels that have an elongated sound. Row#2 is for the vowel 'Kanna' that gives the sound 'aa' as the 'a' in the English word 'cart'. This vowel does not apply to the letters ੳ and ੲ
Always remember that the vowel Kanna gives an 'elongated' sound 'aa'.
Next vowel is Behari, with an elongated sound 'ee' as in the English word 'heel'. Always pronounce it elongated as in the punjabi word: ਨਿਰਗੁਨੀਆਰ Nir-gun-ee-aar
If Behari (ee) isn't pronounced elongated then it will sound like a Sehari (ey). The word will sound Nir-gun-ey-aar instead of Nir-gun-ee-aar
Behari (ee) does not apply to the letters ੳ and ਅ.
Next vowel is 'Dulainkar' with an elongated sound 'oo' as in the English word 'cool'. This vowel does not apply to the letters ਅ and ੲ
Next vowel is 'Laan' with an elongated sound 'ay' as in the English word 'may'. Laan does not apply to the letters ੳ and ਅ
Next vowel is 'Dolaan' with an elongated sound 'ai' as the 'a' in the English word 'have'. This does not apply to the letters ੳ and ੲ. In many areas, people pronounce Dolaan as Laan and vice versa. Please spot your weak area and practice *** that row.
Next vowel is 'Hora' with an elongated sound 'oo' as in the English word 'go'. This vowel does not apply to the letters ਅ and ੲ
Next vowel is 'Kanaura' with an elongated sound 'au' as in the English word 'Paul'. This vowel does not apply to ੳ and ੲ. Very few people are able to pronounce this correctly so kindly focus.
We left practicing the last three rows horizontally because they are not vowels but nasal and geminate sounds. These will be covered now when we practice this page column wise.