Approximants

Approximants are basically consonant sounds produced by bringing articulators close together, but not close enough to block airflow or create audible friction.

There are just four approximants (māe káp seng sâwn) in Dai Ahom used to make consonant clusters and only two of them (liquids) are found in manuscripts (l and r), while other two (glides) are recent inventions to write burmese and other tai words (y and w).

Four Approximants of Dai Ahom

	Approximant
	Ska (kra)
	kYa (kla)
	Aia (kya)
	Aoa (kwa)

I understand this might sound too complicated. But just think how will you write the word 'play' in Ahom script? It will be 𑜆𑜝𑜦 ple or 𑜆𑜝𑜦𑜧 plae

Similarly how will you write the word 'chrome'? It will be 𑜀𑜞𑜥𑜉𑜫 krom or 𑜀𑜞𑜨𑜉𑜫 krawm. So all these consonant clusters they are formed using these approximants.

Although the glides (y and w) are not found in Old Ahom but we need them to write words like 𑜀𑜨า𑜉𑜫: - kwáam, 𑜀𑜦𑜢𑜡, - kyàw, 𑜆𑜦𑜢𑜡, - pyàw, etc. For now just know that they are important.

Exercise