Kandel, R. K. (2010). The sounds of the English language and Nepali language. ANUSHEELAN Research Journal, (Saun 2067 BS), pp. 189-98. 1 The Sounds of the English Language and Nepali Language Rajan Kumar Kandel -Teaching Assistant, English Education Surkhet Campus (Education). -Vice- Chair, Tribhuvan University Teachers' Association (TUTA), Campus Committee -General Secretary, Nepal English Teachers' Association (NELTA),Surkhet Branch Abstract This article presents an observational overview of English and Nepali sound systems, how the sounds are produced, their distinctive features, classification and distributional limitations. It also depicts interlingual comparison and contrast between English and Nepali sounds. The sounds of English and Nepali are presented in table explicitly. The syllable structures of both the languages are also mentioned with examples to distinguish the potential sequences of sounds in two languages within a syllable. Keywords: Sounds, vowels and consonants, monophthongs and diphthongs, voiced and voiceless, aspiration, syllable Introduction Sounds are building blocks of a Language. They are the meaningful, minimal distinctive units of a language. Longer utterances in a language are constructed arranging the sounds in an order. Organs involved in producing speech sounds Speech sounds are produced by our organs which are commonly known as organs of speech. But there is no organ of our body which is specifically designed for talking. They have other duties to perform biologically, like breathing smelling, biting, chewing, tasting, swallowing, sucking and other such activities, which are considered to be primary (Abercrombie, 1967). More than half of a human body from head to the abdomen is needed for the production of speech sounds these bodily organs lie in the three groups. One group lies in the trunk, second in the throat and third in the head, which in turn form the respiratory system, the phonatory system, and articulatory system respectively (ibid.). These organs work together as a unified whole to produce speech sounds. Although not usually identified, we can also involve ear as an organ of speech because it is the main organ of reception of speech sounds. Production of speech sounds Speech organs are involved in different ways to produce speech sounds modulating the air in some ways. An air stream is the basis for the whole of the production of sounds. The organs of our body which are called the initiators set an air-stream in motion and the speech organs modulate the air-stream to produce different sounds. Three main types of air-stream mechanisms viz. pulmonic, glottalic and velaric are used in human speech. These three mechanisms may be used to push air out or to pull it in. If the air is pushed out it is called an egressive air-stream and the reverse is ingressive. Pulmonic air-stream mechanism uses lungs and respiratory muscles as the initiators. The larynx itself with the glottis firmly closed is the initiator in glottalic air-stream mechanism. The larynx acts exactly as a plunger in a syringe: when moved downwards, it draws the air after it; and when moved upwards it pushes air out (Abercrombie, 1967). The air it sets in motion is the air in pharynx and thus it is also called the pharyngal air stream mechanism, especially in America. The air below the larynx, in the trachea, bronchial tubes and lungs is not affected and takes no part in the air stream. In velaric air-stream mechanism, the back part of the tongue lifted up so that it comes firmly into contact with the velum is the initiator. It (contact) is pushed forward in the mouth to make an egressive air-stream and pulled back to make an ingressive air stream (ibid.). It sets only the air in the mouth in motion. Velaric egressive sounds are not noticed and recorded (in any languages) yet.