Correct Pronunciation of Waheguru

Luckysingh · #91 (**permalink**) 21-May-2012, 06:20 AM

Indian speaking languages have a few pronunciation problems when it comes to english speaking languages.
An example is the sharp 'V' sound in english that is not used much in indian speaking languages. This 'V' sound is made by putting your upper teeth on to bottom lip and saying 'E' from the base of your mouth,- result is a sharp 'V' as in 'Victory' or 'Vertical'

In indian speaking there is also no direct 'W' sound, the W and V sound which is ਵ, comes somewhere in between the 2 english sounds.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/34054-correct-pronunciation-of-waheguru.html
Probably the most closest indian word with 'V' to english 'V' is 'Vaadiyanh'

Even the dialects vary in indian from gepgraphical areas, such as the word 'Vadha' meaning 'big' or 'large' will be heard with a sharper 'V' in areas like 'Vadha' or with a more casual 'W' such as 'Waddha', depending on where you hear it.

This 'V' also causes the problems with the mispronounced 'W' that we commonly hear in indian speaking english-
such as
'Vindow' instead of 'window'
'Vann O'clock' instead of 'One O'clock'
'Vait a minute' instead of 'Wait a minute'
'Wordical' instead of 'Vertical' - this is often heard here as the indians will put on an american influenced accent with their words. (from the way they are taught in many indian areas now)
'Very bewildering' on the other hand will be pronounced 'Wery beVildering'

The list is endless
Some of you may find this a little amusing and be sniggering as you will recall hearing these pronunciations in your experiences, but these 'W''s and 'V's are very often mixed up for this very reason.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34054

We all know these mispronunciation of words and accents are used as the butt of endlees jokes about indians, but the few punjabis that I have tried to teach in order to correct them seem to have a great deal of difficulty grasping the application and difference in 'V's and 'W's.

Now, with all this mind, you will understand what I'm getting at here.
On this thread we are discussing 'correct pronunciation of WAHEGURU'

This itself is open to debate on NOT THE GRAMMAR but simple pronounciation by a pure english speaking or the indian english speaking.
We know that there is a difference if english is your first or second language.
In this case we would regard people born or who have been raised as children here in the west as having english as 1st language, and people from India as having it as 2nd language.

Waheguru
Vaheguru

Ambarsaria · #92 (**permalink**) 21-May-2012, 06:49 AM

Luckysingh ji thanks for your post. My inspiration for "Wa" comes from listening to the name Wawa (a town in Ontario, Canada) by people with first language English. If you have friend with first language English, ask them to say it, it is fun. There is incredibly exact match to the sound I always heard for

ਵਾ -- Wa -- as in Wawa
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34054
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34054
That is my reference.

English of course is not my first language. However outside of home I have only spoken English for the last 42 years including during all education during this period.

Sat Sri Akal.

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #93 (**permalink**) 21-May-2012, 17:08 PM

There is no "dispute" about how Guru is pronunced..and the pronounciation fo WAHE is also beyond dispute ..so it naturally follows that any attempts to create confusion when the two are joined up..WAHE-GURU...is a self defeating exercise in futility. Thats why the lines contain many WAHEGURU....and also a WAHE at the end....Wahe Jio.

harry haller · #94 (**permalink**) 22-May-2012, 00:23 AM

Ask a punjabi to pronounce USB, I find more often than not it comes out as Joo Ess Bee, explanations?

Khalistani_lion · #95 (**permalink**) 22-May-2012, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry haller

Ask a punjabi to pronounce USB, I find more often than not it comes out as Joo Ess Bee, explanations?

Its that Punjabi's lack of understanding of correct pronunciation of USB that the sound of U is ਯੂ, not ਜੂ

Gyani Jarnail Singh · #96 (**permalink**) 22-May-2012, 07:09 AM

A Punjabi teacher pronounced Psychology..as Fasaai Challo Ji...apologies becasue only a Punjabi can get this joke.

Luckysingh · #97 (**permalink**) 22-May-2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry haller

Ask a punjabi to pronounce USB, I find more often than not it comes out as Joo Ess Bee, explanations?

Yeh, good one, I didn't realise that one. But there isn't that sound made with U as in 'you' or 'Uganda'.
I think the 'Y' sound as in 'Yard' or 'Yaar' is more common there doesn't seem to be many Y followed by U or Ooo sound as in Yugoslavia.
But, I think you agree with the common V and W's I stated earlier.
It's just that these sounds are hardly used in indian languages, like the USB sound you say.

prakash.s.bagga · #98 (**permalink**) 23-May-2012, 00:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambarsaria

Prakash.S.Bagga ji are you really that thick. The words and pronunciations are Punjabi. I don't claim or pretend connections to Gurbani neither did I state any in the post. Not every word in Punjabi and written in many ways has to do with Gurbani. Languages add words all the time and people can write many variations. They can then describe what they mean. Some will make sense and be accepted and others will not. I simply showed accents and possible meanings given the commonality of syllables.

Please read the posts without venom and approach to finding faults. Just reflect on your posts in this thread, other than finding faults what have you personally contributed? Respectfully, this is not expected of a 60 year old learned Sikh.

Sat Sri Akal.

One should understand what the thread is about?
.The thread is for specific Word s pronunciation.Why unnecessarily create deviations for confusion.?
As ever I am grateful for your remarks and views.

Prakash.s.Bagga

Luckysingh · #99 (**permalink**) 23-May-2012, 09:55 AM

If you can't FEEL the word 'waheguru' resonating inside you, then it doesn't matter wether you pronounce it one way or the other, right or wrong.