Text from Learn The Bangla Alphabet at

Transcription

1 The Bangla Alphabet Vowels, Consonants, Vowel Diacritics, Compound Consonants Supriyo Sen October 2013, Toronto, Canada Table of Contents Preface... 2 Vowels... 3 Consonants... 5 Sample Bangla Words with Vowels & Consonants Vowel and Vowel Signs Sample Bangla Words with Vowels Signs Compound Consonants Sample Bangla Words with Compound Consonants Alphabet Review- sohoj path The Bangla Alphabet & English Phonetic Representation

2 Preface Bengali or Bangla (ব ল ) is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent which evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages circa 1000 AD. Bangla is native to the Indian state of West Bengal and the country, Bangladesh. People who speak this language are called ব ঙ ল (bangali). There are nearly 230 million speakers of Bangla, according to a 2007 census, making it the sixth most used language in the world (after Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, English, Arabic and Hindi). This ebook is written to teach the Bangla Alphabet to: a. Children of Bengali parents who want to communicate with elderly relatives, b. Spouses and friends of Bengali speakers who want to participate in conversations, c. English speakers who want to learn some Bangla but are unable to invest significant effort in doing so. The Phonetic English used in this book is the same as the scheme used in the companion website for writing Bangla (currently in the website All Bangla content for this book was generated using this Phonetic Editor. An abbreviated version shown here will help you interactively see the formation of Bangla characters. This ebook contains words in Bangla, their Phonetic representation and words in English. The color coding scheme used is as follows: Source Color Code Example English Bangla Phonetic Part of Word Word English Speech I আ ম ami Pronoun Thr color coding scheme is implemented on the online version. 2

3 The Bangla alphabet has 11 vowels in common usage. Text from Learn The Bangla Alphabet at Vowels Two vowel sounds have short and long forms. For example, the normal "i" sound ই is called the short i (hroswoi) and the letter ঈ is the long i (dirgho-i). Similarly, the letters উ and ঊ represent the short and long "u" sound, respectively. These reflect Bangla's Sanskrit origin. In modern Bangla usage, the short and long forms have similar pronunciation. These vowels are shown here because they are still used in spelling Bangla words. Non-native speakers may find that spelling of words becomes a challenge when choosing between the long and short forms of the "i" and "u" sounds as they are pronounced similarly in common modern usage. Pure Vowels Bangla form অ English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound o aw awe In Online version আ a aah Aadvark In Online version ই ঈ উ ঊ i hroswo-i(short i) hit In Online version I dirgho-i(long i) skiing In Online version u hroswo-u(short u) put In Online version U dirgho-u(long u) vacuum In Online version Former Semi-Vowel Bangla form ঋ English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound rri ree wring In Online version 3

4 Compound Vowels or Dipthongs Bangla form এ ঐ ও ঔ English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound e eh bed In Online version OI oi going In Online version O o moat In Online version OU ou o+u In Online version 4

5 Consonants There are 35 consonants and 4 consonant signs in common usage. The consonant letters are pronounced as if they had "aw" (as in the sound of the English "awe") at the end. So the letter ক (k) sounds like "kaw". There is a logic to the grouping of the letters, each set having a sound that emanates from the mouth with a different combination of the lips, tongue, palate and diaphragm. Gutturals - in the throat - ক খ গ ঘ ঙ (k kh g gh Ng). The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally. Bangla form ক খ গ ঘ ঙ English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound k kaw skin In Online version kh khaw khaki In Online version g gaw go In Online version gh ghaw ghetto In Online version Ng ungaw king In Online version 5

6 Palatals - on the palate - চ ছ জ ঝ ঞ (ch chh j jh NG). The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally. Bangla form চ ছ জ ঝ English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound ch chaw cheat In Online version chh chhaw watch In Online version j borgiyo-jaw jingle In Online version jh jhaw jhansi In Online version ঞ NG ingaw gnome In Online version Cerebrals - with the tongue bent back on the roof of the mouth - ট ঠ ড ঢ ণ (T Th D Dh N). The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally. Bangla form ট ঠ ড ঢ ণ English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound T taw token In Online version Th ttaw whittle In Online version D daw dive In Online version Dh dhaw adhere In Online version N moddheno-naw noise In Online version 6

7 Dentals - with the tongue on the teeth - ত থ দ ধ ন (t th d dh n). The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally. Bangla form ত থ দ ধ ন English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound t taw(soft) Wyeth In Online version th thaw(hard) think In Online version d daw Dostoevsky In Online version dh dhaw sadhu In Online version n donte-naw no In Online version Labials - on the lips - প ফ ব ভ ম (p ph,f b,w bh,v m). The first and third letters are pronounced unaspirated, while the second and fourth are pronounced aspirated (as if with a puff of breath). The last letter is pronounced nasally. Bangla form প ফ ব ভ ম English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound p paw pauper In Online version ph,f phaw cipher In Online version b,w baw boy In Online version bh,v bhaw abhorrent In Online version m maw mother In Online version 7

8 Sibilants - s sounds as if hissing - শ ষ স (sh Sh s). These letters sound similar (shaw) in common modern usage and are separately retained for historical reasons from Bangla's Sanskrit origin. Bangla form শ ষ স English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound sh talibo-shaw show In Online version Sh moddheno-shaw cash In Online version s donte-shaw wish In Online version Semi-Vowels - letters sometimes used as vowels - য র ল হ য় ড় ঢ় (J,Y r l h y R Rh). These letters are sometimes used as vowels especially when combined with other consonants. The three "raws" র ড় ঢ় (r R Rh) sound similar in common modern usage and are separately retained for historical reasons from Bangla's Sanskrit origin. Bangla form য র ল Bangla form হ য় ড় ঢ় English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound J,Y ontesto-jaw joy In Online version r boye-sunno-raw right In Online version l law lady In Online version English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound h haw hole In Online version y ontesto-aw happy In Online version R doye-sunnyo-raw(hard r) rhythm In Online version Rh ddhoye-sunnyo-raw (hard rh) arrhythmia In Online version 8

9 Consonant Signs - special consonants that are never used to form compound consonants - ৎ (t^ ng,ng^ H^ n^). These letters are used for special sounds and are generally not used in compound consonant clusters. Bangla form ৎ English Phonetic Letter Name Pronounced as in Hear Sound t^ khanda taw(short taw) nitwit In Online version ng,ng^ sign anuswar Bengali In Online version H^ sign bishorgo poof In Online version n^ sign chondrobindu sand In Online version Non-native speakers will need some practice to attain proficiency in differentialing between and pronouncing the non-aspirated and aspirated consonants shown above. Spelling of words becomes a challenge when a number of sounds are similar, but have separate letters assigned to them. Specifically, 3 "shaw" sounds - শ স ষ (sh s Sh) referred to as talibo-shaw, donte-shaw and moddheno-shaw 3 "raw" sounds - র ড় ঢ় (r R Rh) referred to as boye-sunno-raw, doye-sunno-raw and ddhoye-sunno-raw because they look like a dot (sunno) was added to baw, daw and ddhaw 2 "naw" sounds - ন ণ (n N) referred to as donte-naw and moddheno-naw 2 "jaw" sounds - জ য (j J) referred to as borgiyo-jaw and ontesto-jaw 9

10 Sample Bangla Words with Vowels & Consonants Bangla Word Phonetic English Meaning POS অ + + শ = অ শ ongsho part (n.) আ + জ = আজ aj today (n.) ঈ + গ + ল = ঈগল Igol eagle (n.) উ + ট = উট ut camel (n.) এ + ব + = এব ebong and (conj.) গ + র + ম = গরম gorom hot (adj.) দ + ল = দল dol group (n.) ন + খ = নখ nokh nail (n.) প + থ = পথ poth way (n.) ব + উ = বউ bou wife (n.) ম + ত = মত moto like (prep.) র + = র rong colors (n.) স + ম + য় = সময় somoy time (n.) 10

11 Vowel and Vowel Signs When a Vowel sound follows a consonant, the Vowel is represented by a Vowel Sign rather than the original Vowel. A vowel sound is sometimes used to modify a consonant. For example, the স sound may be modified by উ, to sound like "su". In this case, a diacritic form of the "u" letter is used to form s. Modified vowels are called "- Kars". The vowel is always used in its original form at the beginning of a word. The diacritic or -kar form is only used to modify the sound of a consonant. Let us consider the Bangla word for "I" which is আ ম(ami). The "a" sound আ is followed by the "m" sound ম which is modified by the "i" sound ই. The diacritic for the "i" sound is which is actually put on the left of the consonant it modifies. So the word ami would look not like আ ম ই but like আ ম. Diacritics (or -kars) go to the left, right, above or below the consonant it modifies. The consonant 'গ' with the vowel sign ' '. The result looks like g, which is a changed form of 'গ'. Consonants with Vowel Diacritics + অ + আ + ই + ঈ + উ + ঊ + ঋ + এ! + ঐ! + ও! + ঔ! ক ক ক ক ক k k ক!ক!ক!ক!ক খ খ খ খ খ খ খ খ!খ!খ!খ!খ গ গ গ গ গ g গ গ!গ!গ!গ!গ ঘ ঘ ঘ ঘ ঘ ঘ ঘ ঘ!ঘ!ঘ!ঘ!ঘ ঙ ঙ ঙ ঙ ঙ ঙ ঙ ঙ!ঙ!ঙ!ঙ!ঙ চ চ চ চ চ চ চ চ!চ!চ!চ!চ ছ ছ ছ ছ ছ ছ ছ ছ!ছ!ছ!ছ!ছ জ জ জ জ জ জ জ জ!জ!জ!জ!জ 11

12 ঝ ঝ ঝ ঝ ঝ ঝ ঝ ঝ!ঝ!ঝ!ঝ!ঝ ঞ ঞ ঞ ঞ ঞ ঞ ঞ ঞ!ঞ!ঞ!ঞ!ঞ ট ট ট ট ট ট ট ট!ট!ট!ট!ট ঠ ঠ ঠ ঠ ঠ ঠ ঠ ঠ!ঠ!ঠ!ঠ!ঠ ড ড ড ড ড ড ড ড!ড!ড!ড!ড ঢ ঢ ঢ ঢ ঢ ঢ ঢ ঢ!ঢ!ঢ!ঢ!ঢ ণ ণ ণ ণ ণ ণ ণ ণ!ণ!ণ!ণ!ণ ত ত ত ত ত ত ত ত!ত!ত!ত!ত থ থ থ থ থ থ থ থ!থ!থ!থ!থ দ দ দ দ দ d দ দ!দ!দ!দ!দ ধ ধ ধ ধ ধ ধ ধ ধ!ধ!ধ!ধ!ধ ন ন ন ন ন n ন ন!ন!ন!ন!ন প প প প প প প প!প!প!প!প ফ ফ ফ ফ ফ ফ ফ ফ!ফ!ফ!ফ!ফ ব ব ব ব ব ব ব ব!ব!ব!ব!ব ভ ভ ভ ভ ভ ভ ভ ভ!ভ!ভ!ভ!ভ ম ম ম ম ম ম ম ম!ম!ম!ম!ম য য য য য য য য!য!য!য!য র র র র র r r র!র!র!র!র ল ল ল ল ল ল ল ল!ল!ল!ল!ল শ শ শ শ শ! শ শ!শ!শ!শ!শ ষ ষ ষ ষ ষ ষ ষ ষ!ষ!ষ!ষ!ষ স স স স স s স স!স!স!স!স হ হ হ হ হ h হ h!হ!হ!হ!হ ড় ড় ড় ড় ড় ড় ড় ড়!ড়!ড়!ড়!ড় 12

13 ঢ় ঢ় ঢ় ঢ় ঢ় ঢ় ঢ় ঢ়!ঢ়!ঢ়!ঢ়!ঢ় য় য় য় য় য় য় য় য়!য়!য়!য়!য় 13

14 Sample Bangla Words with Vowels Signs Bangla Word Phonetic English Meaning POS অ + ন +! + ক = অ নক onek many (adj.) আ + ক + + শ = আক শ akash sky (n.) উ + প + র +! = উপ র upore above (prep.) এ + ক + ট + = একট ekotu a little (adv.) এ + খ + ন +! = এখ ন ekhono yet (conj.) ও + র + = ওর Ora they (pr.) ক + থ + + ব + ল + = kotha speak (v.) কথ বল bola ক + প + + ল = কপ ল kopal forehead (n.) ক + র + = কর kora do (v.) ক + ল + = কল kola banana (n.) ক + + ক + + র = kkর kukur dog (n.) খ + + র + + প = খ র প kharap bad (adj.) গ + র + = গr goru cow (n.) ঘ + + স = ঘ স ghas grass (n.) চ + + ম + ড় + = chamora skin (n.) চ মড় চ + + ল = চল chil kite (n.) ছ + ব + = ছ ব chhobi pictures (n.) জ + + ন + + স = jinis thing (n.) জ নস 14

15 ট + + প + = ট প Tupi hat (n.) ড + + ম = ডম Dim egg (n.) ত + + ড় + + ত + + taratari quickly (adv.) ড় + = ত ড় ত ড় থ +! + ক +! =!থ ক theke from (prep.) দ + + দ + = দ দ dada elder brother (n.) ধ + + র +! = ধ র dhare along (prep.) ন + + ক = ন ক nak nose (n.) ন + + চ + = ন চ nacha dance (v.) প + র +! = প র pore after (prep.) ফ + + ল + ক + প + = phulokopi cauliflower (n.) ফ লক প ব + ল + = বল bola say (v.) ব + + ব + = ব ব baba father (n.) ভ + + ই = ভ ই bhai younger (n.) brother ম + = ম ma mother (n.) য + + ও + য় + = য ওয় JaOya go (v.) র + + খ + = র খ rakha put (v.) ল + + ল = ল ল lal red (adj.) শ + র + + র = শর র shorir body (n.) স + ক + + ল = সক ল sokal morning (n.) হ + ল + দ +! = হল দ holode yellow (adj.) হ + + ত = হ ত hat hand (n.) 15

16 হ + + র + + ন +! = হ র ন harano lose (v.) 16

17 Compound Consonants When two consonant sounds, like ন (n) and ত (t) are used together, the compound letter looks like n (nt) and is called a "juktakkhor" or compound letter. The letter form of the compound consonants may look quite different than the original forms of the constituent consonants. A complete set of compound consonants is shown below. 2-letter Compound Consonants ক খ গ ঘঙচ ছ জ ঝঞট ঠ ড ঢণ ত থ দ ধ ন প ফ ব ভম য র লশষ স হড়ঢ়য় ক k k k ক"kk kk খ খ"! গ gg গ"g g ঘ ঘ"! ঙ ŋ ŋŋ চ!! চ" ছ! ছ" জ j j j জ"j ঝ ঝ" ঞ!!! ট T ট" T ঠ ঠ" ড D ড"D ঢ ঢ" ণ N N!ণ ণ" ত t t t t tত"t 17

18 থ Text from Learn The Bangla Alphabet at থ"! দ d d d ddদ"d ধ! ধ"! ন!ট!ঠ!ড n!থnn n n nn ন" n প p p pp প"p p p ফ!ট ফ"!! ব b b b b ব" b b ভ ভ"!! ম m m m mmম"m m য য" র কখ" গ" ঘ চ" ছ" জ" ঝ ট" ঠ" ড" ঢণ" ত" থ" দ" ধ" ন" প" ফ" ব" ভম" য" ল l l l l l!দl lll lল"ল" l শ!!!!!!শ"!! ষ!!!!!!!ষ" ষ" স ss s s s s sss স"s s হ h h h hhh h ড় ড়" ঢ় য় য়"! য লশষ" স" হ 18

19 3-letter Compound Consonants ন + ত + র = nt স + ত + র = st The most common Compound Consonants are shown here. য-ফল J-phola Consonant য (J). It adds a "yaw" sound (rather than a "jaw" sound as you would expect). Pronunciation is a Sanskrit artifact. ক + য = ক" খ + য = খ" গ + য = গ" ত + য = ত" র-ফল r-phola Consonant র(r). Adds a "raw" sound. ক + র = k খ + র =! গ + র = g ত + র = t দ + র = d ল-ফল l-phola Consonant ল (l). Adds a "law" sound. ক + ল = k গ + ল = g প + ল = p 19

20 ম + ল = m ব-ফল b-phola Consonant ব (b). Adds a "bo" or "wo" sound. জ + ব = j শ + ব =! স + ব = s ণ-ফল N-phola Consonant ণ (N). Adds a "naw" sound. ণ + ণ =!ণ ষ + ণ =! ন-ফল n-phola Consonant ন (n). Adds a "naw" sound. গ + ন = g ত + ন = t ন + ন = n ম + ন = m ম-ফল m-phola Consonant ম (m). Adds a "maw" sound. ত + ম = t দ + ম = d ন + ম = n ম + ম = m 20

21 !রফ reph Consonant র (r) before a Consonant. Adds the "raw" sound before a consonant. র + ক = ক" র + গ = গ" র + ঘ = ঘ" র + জ = জ" Other Miscellaneous Consonants include 2 and 3 letter conjuncts A few examples. ক + ক = k ন + দ + র = nd ন + ধ + য = n" ম + প + র = mp 21

22 Sample Bangla Words with Compound Consonants Bangla Unicode fonts have a special feature for compound consonants. The Hosonto sign ( ) used between two consonants causes them to form the compound consonant in Bangla Unicode fonts. The suborno Phonetic method and the software on this site will form the compound consonants automatically. Bangla Word Phonetic English Meaning POS অn onyo other (adj.) উtর!দওয় uttor deoya reply (v.) কn kintu but (conj.) চn কর chinta kora worry (v.)!চ# কর cheshta kora try (v.) জn ন jonmano born (v.) ঠ #ড ThanDa cold (adj.) দ kণ দক dokshin dik south (n.) দক# র হওয় dorkar hooya need (v.) প র$ র কর porishkar kora clean (v.) p ত proti to (prep.) বn কর bondho kora shut (v.) ব # bachcha child (n.) ব k কর bikri kora sell (v.) রk rokto blood (n.) সn# sondhya evening (n.) সp হ soptaho week (n.) স য$ surjo sun (n.) st stri wife (n.) s ম swami husband (n.) 22

23 Alphabet Review-sohoj path Here is the introduction to Rabindranath Tagore's সহজ প ঠ (sohoj path) with illustrations by Nandalal Basu. বণ#ম ল - Garland of Letters Vowels অ আ o a!ছ ট!খ ক ব ল অ আ!শ খ ন!স কথ কওয় chhoto khoka bole o a little boy says awe ah, shekheni se kotha kooya. he has not yet learnt to speak words. 23

24 ই ঈ i I hs ই দ ঘ$ ঈ ব স খ য় k র খই hroswo i dirgho I hroshwo (short) i, dirgho (long) I, bose khay kshir khoi. sit and eat condensed milk and parched rice. উ ঊ u U hs উ দ ঘ$ ঊ ড ক ছ ড়!ঘউ!ঘউ hroswo u dirgho U hroshwo (short) u, dirgho (long) U, Dak chhare gheu gheu. yell out gheu gheu. 24

25 ঋ rri ঘন!মঘ ব ল ঋ দন বড় ব# ghon megh bole rri din boro bishri. 'dark clouds', says rri, 'the day is ugly'. এ ঐ e OI ব ট হ ত এ ঐ হ ক!দয়!দ!দ bati hate e OI bowl in hand, eh OI, han^k dey de doi. yell out 'give me yoghurt'. 25

26 ও ঔ O OU ড ক প ড় ও ঔ ভ ত আ ন বড়!ব Dak pare O OU bhat ano boro bou. call out O OU, 'bring rice, eldest daughter-in-law.' 26

27 Consonants ক খ গ ঘ k kh g gh ক খ গ ঘ গ ন!গ য়!জ ল ড ঙ চ ল!ব য় k kh g gh gan geye singing, 'kaw khaw gaw ghaw', jele DiNgi chole beye. the fisherman rows his boat. ঙ Ng চ র ব স র ধ ঙ!চ খ ত র ল গ!ধ য় chore bose ran^dhe Ng as ingaw cooks on the sandy beach, chokhe tar lage dhon^ya. smoke gets in its eyes. 27

28 চ ছ জ ঝ ch chho j jh চ ছ জ ঝ দ ল দ ল!ব ঝ ন য় হ ট চ ল ch chho j jh dole dole in a group, chaw chhaw jaw jhaw, bojha niye hate chole. are going to the market, with their bags. ঞ NG k দ প য় খ ক ঞ! য় ক দ ক য় ক য় kshide pay khuki NG shuye kan^de kiyon^ kiyon^. little girl, ungaw, is hungry, she lies down and cries 'kiyo kiyo'. 28

29 ট ঠ ড ঢ T Th D Dh ট ঠ ড ঢ ক র!গ ল ক ধ ন য় ঢ ক!ঢ ল T Th D Dh kore gol Taw Thaw Daw Dhaw make noise, kan^dhe niye Dhak DhOl. with drums on their shoulder. ণ N ব ল ম d$n ণ, চ প কর কথ!শ ন bole murddhonyo N, says murdhonya Naw, chup koro kotha shon. be quiet and listen to my words. 29

30 ত থ দ ধ to th d dh ত থ দ ধ ব ল, ভ ই আম প ড় চল য ই to th d dh bole, bhai taw thaw daw dhaw say, 'brother, am pari chol Jai. let us go pick mangoes'. ন n!র গ ব ল দn# ন য ব ন!ত কk ন rege bole dontyo n Jabo na to kokshono. angrily says dontyo naw, 'I will never go'. 30

31 প ফ ব ভ p ph b bh প ফ ব ভ য য় ম ঠ স র দন ধ ন ক ট p ph b bh Jay mathe paw phaw baw bhaw go to the field, saradin dhan kate. all day they cut rice stalks. ম m ম চ ল য়!গ r-গ ড় ধ ন ন য় য য় ব ড় m chalay goru-gari maw drives a bullock cart, dhan niye Jay bari. takes the rice and goes home. 31

32 য র ল ব J r l b য র ল ব ব স ঘ র এক ম ন পড় ক র J r l b bose ghore Jaw raw law baw sit at home, ek mone pora kore. and concentrate on reading books. শ ষ স sh Sh s শ ষ স ব দল দ ন ঘ র য য় ছ ত ক ন sh Sh s badol dine on a rainy day, shaw Shaw saw, ghore Jay chhata kine. buy umbrellas and go home. 32

33 হ k h ksh শ ল ম ড় দ য় হ k!ক ণ ব স ক শ খ k shal muri diye h ksh wrapped in a shawl, haw and kaw+shaw kone bose kashe kh ksh. sit in the corner and cough 'khaw kshaw'. 33

34 The Bangla Alphabet & English Phonetic Representation In English, the name of the letter is not necessarily an indication of how it is pronounced in a word. For example, the letter "C" can be pronounced with an "S" sound as in "cease" or with a "K" sound as in "cash". In Bangla, the letters are pronounced in exactly the same way as they are named. This makes it easy to write Bangla letters and words phonetically. Guide for স বর ণ suborno Bangla Phonetic Transliteration Each Bangla letter is represented by a sequence of 1 to 3 English letters, closely representing the phonetic sound of the Bangla letter. Note that upper and lower case English letters are used. You must use the letters exactly as specified. For example, you must use the lower case "p" to form the Bangla letter প. Example: To write আম র ন ম s pয়, you would enter amar nam supriyo. Usage Notes 1. Vowels and Vowel Signs (-kar) When a Consonant is followed by a Vowel, the diacritic version of the Vowel (or -kar) will be shown. e.g. ki will be shown as ক. 2. Compound Consonants When a Consonant is followed by a Consonant, a Combined Consonant (or juktakkhor) will be formed. e.g. pr produces প+র=p. 3. Negation of Automatic Juktakkhor Sometimes, you may have 2 Consonants next to each other, but you don't want them to be automatically combined. Insert an "o" between the Consonants to override automatic juktakkhor. e.g. kr would have produced the compound letter ক+র=k. The letter "o" does not create a character but is used to break an automatic juktakkhor. If you want to write কর, you will want to break the automatic juktakkhor formed by kr. So you would enter "kor" to get the desired result. 4. Virtual Vowel "o" All Bangla Consonants end with the "awe" sound, as in "kawe" or "ko" for the Bangla consonant ক. The letter "o" can be thought of as a virtual letter, and can be used at the end of a word to make the phonetic word more aesthetic. e.g.to produce কর, you can write "kor" or "koro". 34