আমিন রহমান
সহকারী শিক্ষক
১১ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১৫ ১২:০০ পূর্বাহ্ণ
Confusing English and Bengali sounds
I am visiting the teachers portal after a long time as I was busy with the guidebook and the Pronunciation Dictionary. I have noticed that Batayon has started using BPA which is great but unfortunately, it is not being done correctly! For example, the English /f/ sound and the Bengali /ফ/ sound are two distinctly different sounds. The Bengali word for fruit has to be written with "ফ" as "ফল". While pronouncing /ফ/ the two lips must first touch each other and then you separate the two lips and let out the air from your mouth space to produce the sound. If you write "fল" it will mean the English word "fall". While making the English /f/ sound at the beginning there MUST be a slight opening or gap between your upper lip and the lower teeth through which air is to be forced out. While the air is going out there will be a friction between the articulators which will cause some turbulence thus resulting in the /f/ sound. Once again, the Bengali /ফ/ sound and the English /f/ sound are two separate sounds. You cannot use one for the other. The same is the case with the Bangla /ভ / and the English /v/ sounds, the Bangla /জ/ and the English /z/ sounds and the Bangla /ঝ/ and the English /ʒ/ sounds, and finally, the Bangla /অ/ or /ও/ and the English /w/ sounds. You have to learn to distinguish these sound pairs. Anyway, I am glad that Batayon has decided to use BPA but it should be used correctly. Otherwise, it will do more harm than good.