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Polysyllables

                        

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   Often a kaaN or su4uN consonant is followed immediately by a ta#m consonant without an intervening vowel symbol.  Most of this kind are pronounced as two syllables with a neutral tone "a" pronounced between the consonants.  The tone of the word, whether one syllable or two, follows the rules for the first consonant.
                       
ປລາດ ສນາມ ສເມີ ປໂຍດ ຂນົມ ຖແລງ ຕລາດ ທນົນ
palaât sana4am sane4e pa±oôt khano4m thalE4EN talaât thano4n
                  
   In polysyllabic words, the final consonant of one syllable often doubles as the initial consonant of the following one.  ,  , and   are pronounced "t" when they appear as final consonants.   is pronounced "n" as a final.

    For example va#tcanaánukom (dictionary) is spelled  For example va#tcanaánukom (dictionary) is spelled  ວັຈນານຸກົມ  the    standing for both the "t" of "vat..." and the "c" of the next syllable "...ca...".  If the first part of this word were pronounced "va#ca..." instead of "vatca..." it would be spelled  ວະຈ....

                   
ຮັຖະບານ ຮາຊອານາຈັກ ສຸຂະພາບ ອະນຸຕຣະ
la#tthabaan làatsaaanaácák kkhaphàap anuttala
ພົລເມືອງ ອົພຍົບ ວາສນາ    
pho2nlamy2aN o2ppha±o#p va1atsana4a     
                  
   Note the use of the symbol     in spelling the following words.  ວັ and  ວາ  are pronounced "?ua" when preceded by the letters   ,  , or  .
                  
ກວ່າ ກວ້າງ ກວັກ ຄວັດ ຄວາຍ ຂວາ ຂວັນ
ku#a ku1aN kuák khu1at khuáj khu4a khu4an
                 
   Also note the following.   In contrast to the above,  is pronounced "v" since it is not followed by    ັ or  .
                 
ແຂວງ
khwE4EN

 

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2002 SEAsite Laos.  Polysyllables