Dear members of the forum,
Previously, I have posted on:
Following those topics, I have just found some informations related to Pāḷi grammar to understand the sutta piṭaka in details & pronunciation by IPA characters:
3 -GRAMMAR
3.1 -OUTLINE: ‘A NEW COURSE IN READING PALI’ – GAIR & KARUNATILLAKE
3.1.1 -book
Gair, James W. & Karunatillake, W. S. 2014. A New Course in Reading Pali: Entering the Word of the Buddha. 5th Reprint. A-44, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi - 110028 , India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. Accessed 5 11, 2025.
1.lInk:A New Course in Reading Pali: Entering the Word of the Buddha – Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House
3.1.2 -lecture
Bodhi, Bhikkhu. January 2014 - August 2015. “A New Course in Reading Pali - Audio Recordings of Pali Lessons Taught by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi.” BAUS. Buddhist Association of the United States. Accessed 5 22, 2025. 1.lInk:A New Course in Reading Pali -
BAUS / Teaching / Learning Pali – Buddha’s Language / A New Course in Reading Pali
3.2 –DETAILS: KACC
3.2.1 -Pali-Roman script
3.2.1.1 -Read online
Pāḷi Tipiṭaka - VRI / Scripts / Roman / Tipiṭaka / Añña / Byākaraṇa Gantha-Saṅgaho / Kaccāyanabyākaraṇaṃ:
1.lInk:CSCD Tipiṭaka (Roman)
3.2.1.2 –PDF
Pāḷi Tipiṭaka – VRI / Scripts / PDF / Roman / Roman script in PDF / Anya:
1.lInk:https://tipitaka.org/pdf/romn/Anya.zip
**3.2.2 -English translation: **
3.2.2.1 -printed book
Kaccāyana Pāli Vyākaraṇaṁ. 2016. Kaccāyana Pāli Grammar. first edition. Translated by A. Thitzana. Vols. 2 - translated into English with additional notes, simple explananations and tables. 2 vols. 867 Larmon Road, Onalaska, WA 98570 USA: Pariyatti Publishing. Accessed 5 16, 2025. 1.lInk:Kaccāyana Pāli Grammar Volumes 1 - 2
3.2.2.2 -free PDF
Pariyatti / Store / Pariyatti Publishing / Kaccāyana Pāli Grammar Volumes 1 – 2 / DOWNLOAD FREE PDF VOLS 1 & 2
3.3 –COMPREHENSIVE: SADDANĪTI
3.3.1 -versions
3.3.1.1 -printed book
Aggavaṃsa, Bhikkhu. 1154. SADDANĪTI - LA GRAMMAIRE PALTE DAGGAVAMSA. Edited by HELMER SMITH. 5 vols. c/o Gravita Oxford LLP, First Floor, Park Central, 40 - 41 Park End Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 1JD, UK: Pali Text Society. Accessed 5 16, 2025.
1.lInk:Saddanīti - Pali Text Society
3.3.1.2 -read online & PDF: vols I-II
3.3.1.2.1 -vol I: Padamālā
3.3.1.2.1.1 -read online
Pāḷi Tipiṭaka - VRI / Scripts / Roman / Tipiṭaka / Añña / Byākaraṇa Gantha-Saṅgaho / Saddanītippakaraṇaṃ (Padamālā):
1.lInk:CSCD Tipiṭaka (Roman)
3.3.1.2.1.2 –PDF: same source as Pali-Roman-script Kaccāyanabyākaraṇaṃ
3.3.1.2.2 -vol II: Dhātumālā
3.3.1.2.2.1 -read online
Pāḷi Tipiṭaka - VRI / Scripts / Roman / Tipiṭaka / Añña / Byākaraṇa Gantha-Saṅgaho / Saddanītippakaraṇaṃ (Dhātumālā):
1.lInk:CSCD Tipiṭaka (Roman)
3.3.1.2.2.2 –PDF: same source as Pali-Roman-script Kaccāyanabyākaraṇaṃ
3.3.2 - Exploring the Saddanīti: Kahrs
3.3.2.1 -printed
Kahrs, E.G. 1992. “Exploring the Saddanīti.” Journal of the Pali Text Society (Pali Text Society) XVII: 1-212. Accessed 5 16, 2025. 1.lInk:Journal of the Pali Text Society: Vol. XVII (1992) - Pali Text Society
3.3.2.2 -PDF
Pali Text Society / Journal / Journal of the Pali Text Society / Journal of the Pali Text Society: Vol. XVII (1992) / Description:
‘A free PDF file of this vol. can also be downloaded here’:
1.lInk:https://palitextsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/JPTS_1992_XVII.pdf
4 –PRONUNCIATION
4.1 -DPD:
Bodhirasa, Bhikkhu. n.d. Vers. 2025-04-13. Digital Pāḷi Dictionary. Accessed 5 5, 2025.
1.lInk:https://www.dpdict.net/
4.2 -PRONUNCIATION HELPS MEMORIZE A PALI WORD BETTER?
How do you memorize a word? Do you read the word in your mind? Do you read it outloud? Do you pay attention to the letters, pronunciation of each letter and of the whole word?
4.3 -IPA CHARACTERS AND SOUND
4.3.1 -online
International Phonetic Association. n.d. “IPA 2018 i-charts .” International Phonetic Association. Edited by Małgorzata Deroń. Accessed 6 2, 2025. 1.lInk:IPA i-charts (2018)
4.3.1.1 -guide:
International Phonetic Association. n.d. “manual of the IPA 2018 i-charts .” International Phonetic Association. Accessed 6 2, 2025. 1.lInk:IPA i-charts (2018) manual
| a) | Make sure tab ‘DESCRIPTION’ (top of webpage) is chosen |
|---|---|
| b) | On a chart of IPA characters (eg CONSONANTS (PULMONIC)), click on the IPA character (Eg ‘ŋ’ – voiced velar nasal) to look for pronunciation. |
| c) | At field ‘Pronunciation:’ on the pop-up box of ‘ŋ’, click on the musical note of one of the phoneticians (eg. J. Esling) |
4.3.1.2 –video:
International Phonetic Association. n.d. “Links to Phonetics Resources.” International Phonetic Association. Accessed 6 2, 2025.
1.lInk:Links to Phonetics Resources | International Phonetic Association
Links to Phonetics Resources / A. Links to Phonetics Resources / A.1 Learning the IPA symbols / Clickable IPA charts with audio and video for two speakers / Frontal and saggital videos and animated vocal tracts, University of Sheffield
a) Downloadable clips:
Walker, Gareth. n.d. “IPA chart with video illustrations.” Learning the International Phonetic Alphabet. University of Sheffield. Accessed 6 2, 2025. 1.lInk:University of Sheffield --- International Phonetic Alphabet
- i) Click a chart of IPA characters, eg: CONSONANTS (PULMONIC)
- ii) On that chart, click on the IPA character (Eg ‘ŋ’ – voiced velar nasal) to look for pronunciation
- iii) To download: on the video window, click the three-dot icon (menu)
4.3.2 - Handbook of the International Phonetic Association
International Phonetic Association. n.d. “Handbook of the IPA.” International Phonetic Association. Accessed 6 2, 2025.
1.lInk:Handbook of the IPA | International Phonetic Association
4.3.2.1 -printed book:
International Phonetic Association. 1999. Handbook of the International Phonetic Association. Paperback. Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 8EA, UK: Cambridge University Press. Accessed 6 2, 2025.
1.lInk:https://www.cambridge.org/gb/universitypress/subjects/languages-linguistics/phonetics-and-phonology/handbook-international-phonetic-association-guide-use-international-phonetic-alphabet?format=PB?format=PB
4.3.2.2 –eBook:
International Phonetic Association. 2013. Handbook of the International Phonetic Association. Adobe eBook Reader. Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 8EA, UK: Cambridge University Press, 10. Accessed 6 2, 2025.
1.lInk:https://www.cambridge.org/gb/universitypress/subjects/languages-linguistics/phonetics-and-phonology/handbook-international-phonetic-association-guide-use-international-phonetic-alphabet?format=AR
4.3.2.3 –to download audio recordings for illustrations of English & Hindi (which together have Pāḷi pronunciation) characters in Part 2 of the IPA handbook:
International Phonetic Association. n.d. “IPA Handbook Downloads.” International Phonetic Association. Accessed 6 2, 2025.
1.lInk:IPA Handbook Downloads | International Phonetic Association
IPA Handbook Downloads / Languages available for download:
4.3.2.3.1 -American-English:
1.lInk:https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/sites/default/files/handbookfiles/American-English.zip
4.3.2.3.2 -Hindi:
1.lInk:https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/sites/default/files/handbookfiles/Hindi.zip
4.4 -PRONUNCIATION OF A WORD ON DPD BY IPA CHARACTERS
For each word searched via DPD, tab grammar on the compact line has IPA characters for pronunciation.
4.4.1 -IPA characters for the Pāḷi alphabet
Search each Pāḷi character in Kacc 2, 2 by DPD to see the IPA characters.
4.4.2 -A Pali-Roman character can be pronounced differently in various cases
Eg:
4.4.3 –vowels: a, ā, i, ī, u, ū, e, o
4.4.3.1 -a 1.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter a’
IPA: /ə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘a’ is pronounced like in ‘her’, neither ‘/ʌ/’ (in ‘what’), /ɛ/, /ɜ/, /ɘ/, /œ/, /ɶ/, /ɐ/, /a/ nor ‘/ɑː/’ (in ‘far’)
4.4.3.1.1 -a in ‘saṃyutta’ 1: ‘pp. (+instr) bound (with)’
IPA: /sɐŋjʊ.t̪ə/
In this case, the first Pāḷi letter ‘a’ in ‘saṃyutta’ is pronounced /ɐ/, neither /ʌ/, /ə/, /a/ nor ‘/ɑː/’ (in ‘far’)
4.4.3.2 -ā: ‘prefix. Intensifier’
IPA: /ɑː/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘ā’ is pronounced like in ‘far’, neither /ʌ/, /ɐ/, /a/, /ə/ nor /ɒ/
4.4.3.3 -i: ‘letter. (gram) letter i’:
IPA: /i/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘i’ is pronounced like in ‘bee’ (/biː/) but shorter, not ‘/ɪ/’( in ‘bit’)
4.4.3.4 -ī: ‘ve. (gram) ī’
IPA: /iː/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘ī’ is pronounced like in ‘beach’, neither /i/ nor /ɪ/
4.4.3.5 -e 1: ‘letter. (gram) letter e’:
IPA: /eː/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘e’ is pronounced like in ‘bed’ but longer, neither /ɛ/, /ə/, /ɜ/, /ɘ/, /œ/ nor /ɶ/
4.4.3.5.1 -e in ‘metta’ 2: ‘nt. (+instr) goodwill’
IPA: /mɛ.t̪ə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘e’ is pronounced /ɛ/, neither /e/ (in ‘bed’), /ə/, /ɜ/, /ɘ/, /œ/ nor /ɶ/
4.4.3.6 –o 1.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter o’
IPA /oː/
In this case: The Pāḷi letter ‘o’ is pronounced neither /ɒ/, /əʊ/ (in ‘fold’) nor /aʊ/ (in ‘how’)
4.4.3.6.1 -o in ‘gotta’ 1: ‘nt. family clan’
IPA: /ɡɒ.t̪ə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘o’ is pronounced /ɒ/, neither /oː/, /əʊ/ (in ‘fold’) nor /aʊ/ (in ‘how’)
| 4.4.4 | –velar: k, kh, g, gh, ṅ |
|---|---|
| 4.4.4.1 | -ka 3.1: ‘ind. 1st item in a numerical list; lit. letter k’ |
| IPA: /kə/ |
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘k’ is pronounced /k/ (in ‘cold’), neither /kʰ/, /g/ (in ‘good’), /kh/, /kɦ/ nor /x/
4.4.4.2 –aspirated letters, eg in velar group: kha 1: ‘ind. 2nd item in a numerical list; lit. letter kh’
IPA: /kʰə/
In this case:
- the Pāḷi aspirate ‘h’ is pronounced /ʰ/, neither /h/ (in ‘house’), /ɦ/ nor soundless (in ‘hour’: /ˈaʊər/)
- the Pāḷi letter ‘kh’ is pronounced /kʰ/, neither /k/ (in ‘cold’), /kh/, /kɦ/ nor /x/
4.4.4.3 - ga 2.1: ‘ind. 3rd item in a numerical list; lit. letter g’
IPA: /ɡə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘g’ is pronounced /g/, neither /k/ nor /ɣ/
4.4.4.4 -ṅa: ‘ind. 5th item in a numerical list; lit. letter ṅ’
IPA: /ŋə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘ṅ’ is pronounced as ‘ng’ (/ŋ/) in ‘sing’, not ‘/n/’ (in ‘now’)
| 4.4.5 | -palatal? c, ch, j, jh, ñ |
|---|---|
| 4.4.5.1 | -ca 1.2: ‘letter. (gram) letter c’: |
| IPA: /cə/ |
In this case: The Pāḷi letter ‘c’ is pronounced /c/, neither /k/, /tʃ/ (in ‘church’), /dʒ/ (in ‘judge’) nor /s/ (in ‘cell’)
4.4.5.2 -ja 2.2: ‘letter. (gram) letter j’
IPA: /ʤə/
In this case: The Pāḷi letter ‘j’ is pronounced /ʤ/, neither /z/ (in ‘zebra’), /c/, /tʃ/, /j/ (in ‘you’), /ʈ/, /ɖ/, /d̪/, /d/ (in ‘dog’), /ɗ/, nor /ð/ (in ‘they’: /ðeɪ/)
4.4.5.3 -ña 1.1: ‘ind. 10th item in a numerical list; lit. letter ñ’
IPA: /ɲə/
In this case: The Pāḷi letter ‘ñ’ is pronounced /ɲ/, neither /n/, /ŋ/ nor /ɳ/
| 4.4.6 | –Retroflex: ṭ, ṭh, ḍ, ḍh, ṇ |
|---|---|
| 4.4.6.1 | -ṭ in ‘piṭaka’ 2: ‘nt. collection of scripture; lit. basket’ |
| IPA: /piʈɐkə/ |
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘ṭ’ is pronounced /ʈ/, neither /tr/ (in ‘train’), /dr/ (in ‘drive’), /t/ (in ‘tick’), /t̪/, /θ/ (th in ‘think’), /d̪/, /d/, /ɖ/, /ɗ/, nor /ð/ (th in ‘they’: /ðeɪ/)
4.4.6.2 -ḍ in ‘ḍahati’: ‘pr. (+acc) burns’
IPA: /ɖɐɦɐt̪i/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘ḍ’ is pronounced /ɖ/, neither /tr/ (in ‘train’), /dr/ (in ‘drive’), /ʈ/, /d̪/, /d/, /ɗ/, nor /ð/ (th in ‘they’: /ðeɪ/)
4.4.6.3 -ṇa: ‘masc. (gram) indicatory letter ṇ’
IPA: /ɳə/
| 4.4.7 | – Alveolar: t, th, d, dh, n |
|---|---|
| 4.4.7.1 | -ta 2.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter t’ |
| IPA: /t̪ə/ |
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘t’ is pronounced /t̪/, not /t/ (in ‘tick’)
4.4.7.2 -da 2.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter d’
IPA: /d̪ə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘d’ is pronounced /d̪/, neither /d/ (in ‘dog’), /ɖ/, /ɗ/, /ð/ (th in ‘they’: /ðeɪ/), /tr/ (in ‘train’), /dr/ (in ‘drive’), /t/ (in ‘tick’) nor /t̪/
4.4.7.3 -na 1: ‘ind. no;’
IPA: /nə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘n’ is pronounced /n/ like in ‘now’, neither / ɳ/, /ɲ/ nor /ŋ/
| 4.4.8 | - Bilabial: p, ph, b, bh, m |
|---|---|
| 4.4.8.1 | - pa 5.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter p’ |
| IPA: /pə/ |
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘p’ is pronounced /p/, neither /f/ (in ‘phone’), /b/ (in ‘bad’) nor /ɓ/
4.4.8.2 -b in ‘bodhi’ 1: ‘fem. awakening;’
IPA: /boːd̪ʰi/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘b’ is pronounced /b/ (in ‘back’), not /ɓ/
4.4.8.3 -ma 1.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter m’
IPA: /mə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘m’ is pronounced /m/, not the Pāḷi letter ‘ṃ’ (/ŋ/)
| 4.4.9 | -eight letters: y, r, l, v, s, h, ḷ, ṃ |
|---|---|
| a) | Approximants: |
| i) | Palatal: /j/ |
| ii) | Alveolar: /r/ |
| iii) | Labiodental: /ʋ/ |
| b) | Lateral approximant: |
| i) | Alveolar: /l/ |
| ii) | Retroflex: /ɭ/ |
| c) | Fricative: |
| i) | Alveolar: /s/ |
| ii) | Glottal: /ɦ/ |
| d) | Nasal: /ŋ/ |
4.4.9.1 -ya 1.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter y’
IPA: /jə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘y’ is pronounced /j/ (in ‘you’), neither /i/, /i:/ (in ‘bee’), /ɪ/ (in ‘tick’)
4.4.9.2 -ra: ‘letter. (gram) letter r’
IPA: /rə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘r’ is pronounced /r/, not /ɹ/ (in ‘ring’)
4.4.9.3 -la: ‘letter. (gram) letter l’
IPA: /lə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘l’ is pronounced /l/ like in ‘look’, not /ɭ/
4.4.9.4 -va 4.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter v’
IPA: /ʋə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘v’ is pronounced /ʋ/, not ‘/v/’ (in ‘very’)
4.4.9.5 -sa 1.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter s’
IPA: /sə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘s’ is pronounced /s/, neither /ʃ/ (in ‘show’) nor /ʂ/
4.4.9.6 -ha 1.1: ‘letter. (gram) letter h’
IPA: /ɦə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘h’ is pronounced /ɦ/, neither /ʰ/, /h/ (in ‘house’) nor soundless (in ‘hour’: /ˈaʊər/)
4.4.9.7 -ḷa: ‘letter. (gram) letter ḷ’
IPA: /ɭə/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘ḷ’ is pronounced /ɭ/, not /l/ (in ‘look’)
4.4.9.8 -aṃ: ‘letter. (gram) letter ṃ’:
IPA: /ɐŋ/
In this case, the Pāḷi letter ‘ṃ’ is pronounced /ŋ/, same as the Pāḷi letter ‘ṅ’
4.4.9.9 –‘ḷh’ in ‘mūḷha’ 1: ‘masc. foolish person’
IPA: /muːɭʰə/
‘ḷh’ is not a Pāḷi letter in Kacc 2, 2.
| 4.4.10 | -double consonants |
|---|---|
| 4.4.10.1 | –both pronounced: ‘mm’ in ‘dhamma’ 1.07: ‘masc. truth’ |
| IPA: /d̪ʰɐmmə/ |
In this case, the Pāḷi double consonants ‘mm’ are pronounced /mm/, neither /.m/ nor /m/
4.4.10.2 –Syllable break & one letter pronounced: ‘kk’ in ‘akka’ 2: ‘masc. crown flower’
IPA: /ɐ.kə/
In this case, the Pāḷi double consonants ‘kk’ are pronounced /.k/, neither /kk/ nor /k/
4.4.10.3 –aspirate: ‘ṭṭh’ in ‘diṭṭhi’ 1: ‘fem. view’
IPA: /d̪i.ʈʰi/
In this case, the Pāḷi double consonants ‘ṭṭh’ are pronounced /.ʈʰ/, neither /ʈʰ/ nor /ʈʈʰ/
4.4.10.4 –two syllables pronounced differently: ‘ññ’ in ‘viññāṇa’ 1: ‘nt. awareness’
IPA: /ʋinɲɑːɳə/
In this case, the Pāḷi double consonants ‘ññ’ are pronounced /nɲ/, neither /ɲɲ/, /ɲ/, nor /.ɲ/
4.4.10.5 –plosive: ‘dd’ in ‘adda’ 1.1: ‘aor. (+acc) saw’
IPA: /ɐ.̪d̪ə/
In this case, the Pāḷi double consonants ‘dd’ are pronounced /.̪d̪/, neither /d̪/, /d/ (in ‘dog’), double /d/, /ɗ/ nor /ɖ/
I hope these informations could be useful for people interested in.
Regards,