vyahnjanas

Vyanjanas are consonants in several Indic scripts, including Devanagari, which is used for Sanskrit, Hindi, and Nepali. Unlike vowels, which can often stand alone, vyanjanas typically require a vowel sound to be pronounced fully. In written form, a vyanjana symbol often implicitly includes the inherent vowel 'a' (अ). To represent a consonant without any accompanying vowel, a special diacritical mark called a virama (्) is placed below the vyanjana. This virama effectively cancels out the inherent vowel sound. Vyanjanas are grouped based on their place and manner of articulation in the vocal tract, a system that has been standardized for centuries in phonetics and linguistics. These groups include gutturals (produced at the back of the throat), palatals (produced with the middle of the tongue against the hard palate), retroflexes (produced with the tip of the tongue curled back), dentals (produced with the tongue against the teeth), and labials (produced with the lips). Each vyanjana has a distinct sound and is represented by a unique character in the script. The understanding and correct pronunciation of vyanjanas are fundamental to mastering the languages that utilize them.