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I was wondering how you pronounce it. Are there multiple pronounciations? Could I pronounce it as you would pronounce Sheila? Any unusual pronounciations are welcome.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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The north Indian name has a palatal sh (as in English sugar), long I (though eastern India shortens all vowels) dental l (like in English) and long open A (like in English car). Most modern Indian languages do not have marked stress, the ancient stress was on the first vowel.
The only variation you will hear in India is possibly the length of the first vowel, and, rarely, in some dialects which do not have palatal s, you will hear the dental s or the consonant chh (a clearly aspirated version of the consonant in English chair). Both would be considered incorrect.
The word in Sanskrit means conduct (possibly from shI to repose or lie, with cognates in Greek), specifically good conduct, and has been used as a name in ancient times, both the male (the last vowel becomes the short schwa as in English about) and the female versions. Its modern usage may have been influenced by Sheila, which Indians will pronounce identically.
The only variation you will hear in India is possibly the length of the first vowel, and, rarely, in some dialects which do not have palatal s, you will hear the dental s or the consonant chh (a clearly aspirated version of the consonant in English chair). Both would be considered incorrect.
The word in Sanskrit means conduct (possibly from shI to repose or lie, with cognates in Greek), specifically good conduct, and has been used as a name in ancient times, both the male (the last vowel becomes the short schwa as in English about) and the female versions. Its modern usage may have been influenced by Sheila, which Indians will pronounce identically.
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