Independent Vowels
Independent vowels are non-diacritical characters that stand alone (i.e. without being attached to a consonant symbol) used to represent vowel phonemes occurring at the beginning of syllables. In Khmer they are called ស្រៈពេញតួ (/sraʔ peɲtuə/) which means "complete vowels". The independent vowels are used in a small number of words, mostly of Indic origin, and consequently there is some inconsistency in their use and pronunciations. However, a few words in which they occur are used quite frequently: ឥឡូវ (/ʔəjləw/ "now"), ឪពុក (/ʔəwpuk/ "father"), ឬ (/ʔrɨː/ ~ /rɨː/ "or").
| Independent vowels |
UN romanization | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ឥ | ĕ | ʔe |
| ឦ | ei | ʔəj |
| ឧ | ŏ | ʔ |
| ឨ | ||
| ឩ | ŭ | ʔu |
| ឪ | ŏu | ʔɨw |
| ឫ | rœ̆ | ʔrɨ |
| ឬ | rœ | ʔrɨː |
| ឭ | lœ̆ | ʔlɨ |
| ឮ | lœ | ʔlɨː |
| ឯ | é | ʔae; ʔɛː,ʔeː |
| ឰ | ai | ʔaj |
| ឱ, ឲ | aô, aôy | ʔaːo |
| ឳ | âu | ʔaw |
Read more about this topic: Khmer Script
Famous quotes containing the words independent and/or vowels:
“The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society, depend so much upon an upright and skilful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“Playing “bop” is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.”
—Duke Ellington (1899–1974)