8.5 The Diacritics “ ៊” and “ ៉”
This symbol “ ៊” is called dtrey-sap. When it is placed above the first series consonants, it converts the first series consonants ហ ស ប អ into the second series consonants:
Compare:
- ហាន “haan” and ហ៊ាន “hian”
- សូ “soo” and ស៊ូ “suu”
1. Reading
Choose the correct answers.
This symbol “ ៉” is called tmenh kɔn-dao. It means “rat’s teeth” and it does the opposite of the symbol “ ៊” that is mentioned above. When placed above the second series consonants, it converts the second consonants យ ម រ វ ង ញ into the first series consonants.
Compare:
- យា “yia” and យ៉ា “yaa”
- មា “mia” and ម៉ា “maa”
However, when it is placed above the first series consonant ប, the sound of the consonant changes from “b” to “bp”.
Compare:
- បះ “bah” and ប៉ះ “bpah”
- បុ “bo” and ប៉ុ “bpo”
2. Listening and Writing
Dictate what you hear.
