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What are Live and Dead Syllables?

When we say a syllable is live or dead we are referring to the way it sounds.

Earlier, you learned that a short vowel has a sound that ends abruptly, where a long vowel sound resonates longer.

You also learned that stop final consonant sounds end abruptly, and sonorant final consonant sounds resonate longer.

If a syllable ends abruptly, we refer to this as a Dead Syllable.

If a syllable resonates longer, we refer to it as a Live Syllable.

And, a syllable that ends in a long vowel or a sonorant final consonant is Live.

So, a syllable that ends in a short vowel or a stop final consonant is Dead.

Without Thai Tone Marks,

Two Things Determine Correct Tone:

1) The class of the initial consonant.
2) Whether the syllable is live or dead.

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Lesson Navigation:

More to come . . .

Active Thai is a work in progress, supported by our users. Please tell your friends!


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