Sanskrit: The Language of Sound

I’ve always been fascinated by languages. In particular, etymology and language acquisition, as well as the actual mechanics of how we make sounds: how we shape our mouths, tongues, and throats to produce certain vibrations that somehow turn into speech.

I grew up in a very international environment. My father is Dutch, my mother Armenian, and I grew up in England and Italy. In Italy, I went to a European school. Every day I was surrounded by languages spoken at native level. French, English, German, Dutch, Italian and more. I remember being intrigued by the distinct sounds of these different languages and enjoyed imitating sounds and putting on accents for fun. It fascinated me that the ability to pronounce certain syllables came so natural to native speakers — yet when we learn a new language later in life, our original accent always clings on.

In fact, as a (very young) child, I even believed that people were born with the built-in capacity to speak the language of their culture, as if the sounds were somehow encoded at birth. It never occurred to me that if I was abducted at birth and raised within an African tribe, I would be speaking their language and not Dutch or Armenian! Of course, I was quite small, but it makes sense that I had this language-as-programming assumption. Because isn't it pretty wild that for example a 4-year old French child can pronounce French words impeccably, when some adults studying French may never get the pronunciation right even after years? Yes, of course, they are not operating from a blank slate as a young child. But still I find it fascinating. You could say that from an early age, I was already wondering about human speech sounds, their production, transmission, and perception.

Many years later, via my study and practise of Yoga, that curiosity eventually led me to become interested in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India.  In the yogic tradition, the sounds that make up the Sanskrit language, weren’t invented by humans for the purpose of communication. They are rather an outcome of refined human experience of the nature of existence: the sounds were heard by ancient sages in states of deep meditation. They noticed that sound isn’t random; it follows the design of our vocal apparatus.

This concept fascinated me and since I loved singing yogic mantra’s it made sense to dive deeper to understand this mystical language.

To really use the Sanskrit alphabet as mantras, as it turns out, one needs to learn not only the inner power of the sounds but also their correct pronunciation. This is because the Sanskrit language is based upon a clear understanding of the science of sound, which forms the basis for a mantra practice. Sounds contain many secrets in how they are pronounced and impact our vocal cords and nervous system. Each sound strikes a different chord within us, we could say.

The Alphabet of Sound

If you look at the structure of the Sanskrit alphabet, it’s organized not by convention but by physiology. The letters progress according to where and how they’re formed in the mouth and throat, from the back of the palate to the lips. Every phoneme corresponds to a specific movement, position, and vibration in the body.

And that’s precisely what makes Sanskrit unique: it’s a language whose structure mirrors human anatomy. When we chant it, we’re literally activating the natural sequence of sound that lives within us. For an enthusiast of languages, yoga, somatics and singing like me, this is truly an epic match made in heaven!

Mantra and the Science of Sound

Mantras are built from 'seed' sounds. They’re essentially formulas that combine the primal syllables of Sanskrit into precise patterns of vibration. When repeated with attention and breath, they create specific energetic effects, not just psychologically, but physiologically too.

Research supports what ancient practitioners observed. Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa found that chanting stimulates the pituitary gland, which lies only millimetres behind the palate. This influences hormonal balance, strengthens the immune and nervous systems, and helps regulate stress responses. In simple terms: sound reorganizes the body. Isn’t that amazing?

The Human Instrument

It took millennia for the human voice to evolve into the flexible, resonant instrument we use today. Hundreds of tiny muscles control the vocal folds, the tongue, and the jaw. The precision with which we articulate sound is one of the most sophisticated movements the body performs.

When we chant Sanskrit, we use this instrument consciously. The correct pronunciation isn’t about dogmatism, pettiness or even respecting the tradition and avoidance of cultural appropriation; it’s about aligning vibration with its physical origin. 

The Three Primal Sounds

So how does this all work? Well Sanskrit has 50 letters but let’s have a look at the three primal vowels in Sanskrit that form the basis of all other sounds: A, I, and U.  They’re the foundation of the sacred syllable AUM (thought to be the primordial sound of creation), and interestingly also represent three phases of movement within the body.

• A (as in another) is the open sound of existence itself: effortless, unformed, expansive.

• I (as in pin) brings focus and direction. It’s the point of contraction where energy takes shape.

• U (as in flute) rounds the vibration outward, carrying it beyond the body into space.
  

Chanting these vowels in sequence over and over creates a tangible shift in energy. You can feel A resonate deep in the abdomen, I rise through the throat, and U gather at the lips before extending into the air. This movement mirrors the natural cycle of expression: from being, to becoming, to release. Essentially representing the life-death cycle.

Listening, Not Performing

This is the heart of Nada Yoga: using sound to refine awareness. It’s not about sounding pretty or even about musicality, but about precision, presence, and rhythm. When we pronounce a sound clearly, we begin to feel its exact location and effect. Over time, listening becomes just as important as producing the sound, and it becomes a continuous feedback loop of sounding and listening.

In my Friday morning Hatha Nada Yoga class, we explore these principles through movement, breath, and voice. It’s a simple but powerful practice: one that reconnects language, physiology, and awareness into a single act of listening. The combination of Hatha and Nada amplifies the effects of both practices, leading to a deeper state of tranquillity while also boosting life force energy, mental clarity and focus.

Because ultimately, sound isn’t just something we make. It’s something we remember.