Non-conforming Initial Clusters
In this role, the first consonant in the cluster is called a ‘leading consonant,’ or
ÍÑ¡ÉùÓ
/ak
L saawn
R nahm
M/.
In most
non-conforming initial consonant clusters:
In such cases, the cluster follows the same
rule as all clusters; that is, the
spoken tone of the syllable as a
whole is determined according to the
consonant class of the
first consonant in the cluster.
However, in the rare case that the second consonant in the cluster is not a
sonorant (non-sonorant low-class consonants included) then
that
second consonant is used to determine the spoken tone of the syllable. Examples:
áÊ´§ ,
àʺÕ§ ,
à¼ÍÔ,
༴Õ§,
à¡ÉÕ³ ,
à¡ÉÕÂÃ,
੾ÒÐ ,
༪Ô.
Also notice that when the
preposed vowel portion of a
straddling vowel precedes a
non-conforming initial cluster, that
grapheme
belongs to the vowel symbol of the syllable as a whole. As such, its pronunciation is deferred until
after the cluster (which contains the
sub-syllable /-Ð/) is pronounced. Again, this situation is explained in more detail in
Inside a Thai Syllable.
As examples of the
clustered consonant tone rule, below are two lists of words from our dictionary which contain
non-conforming initial consonant clusters.
List (a.) shows cases in which the second consonant in the cluster is a
sonorant; therefore the
tone of the
orthographic syllable is determined by
the
consonant class of the
first consonant in the cluster. Also included in this list are examples of tone carry-forward, for example, when using vowel /-ahm/.
List (b.) shows cases in which the second consonant in the cluster is not a
sonorant; therefore the spoken tone of the orthographic syllable is
determined by the consonant class of that second consonant.
Please
let us know if there are corrections to these lists.
(a.) Tone is determined by the first consonant in the cluster:
