Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrai9101882roya).pdf/180

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Consonants.

The following are the consonants used in writing Malay with the equivalents by which I propose to represent them in Roman letters:–

ب b
ت‎ t
ث s [1] in Arabic th, pronounced as in thin.
ج jim j
چ châ ch
ح
خ‎ khâ kh[2]
د‎ dâl d
ذ dhâl dh pronounced in Arabic like th in this.
ر r
ز‎ zay z
س‎ sin, sim s
ش‎ shin, shim sh
ص sâd [3]
ض‎ ḍâd [4] (in pronouncing this letter the tongue touches the back of the upper front teeth).
ط‎ ṭâ
ظ‎ ẓa, ẓôi [5]
غ ghrain ghr[6]
  1. Only two words are in common use in Malay which commence with this letter, namely the names of the second and third days of the week.
  2. خ‎ is a strong guttural. It resembles the sound of ch, in the Scotch word loch.
  3. ص is strongly articulated palatal s, somewhat like ss in hiss.
  4. ض the true sound of this letter must be learnt by the ear. It is like a strong d.
  5. ظ the power of this letter is that of z, pronounced with a hollow sound from the throat.
  6. غ is a hard guttural g. It somewhat resembles the sound of the Northumbrian r.