The Shift from 'V' (व) to 'B' (ब) in Awadhi
1. Rule
One of the most prominent features of Awadhi (and several other North Indian dialects) is the transformation of the Sanskrit semi-vowel V (व) into the labial B (ब).
When reading the Ramcharitmanas, you will constantly see words that you might recognize from standard Hindi or Sanskrit spelled with a 'B' instead of a 'V'.
2. Phonetic Softening
It's a natural phonetic softening. As languages evolve from classical Sanskrit into regional Prakrits and Apabhramshas, pronunciation tends to shift toward sounds that are easier or more natural for the local speakers to articulate.
3. Comparison with Hindi
In standard Hindi, the original Sanskrit 'V' (व) is generally retained. Therefore, when comparing Awadhi words to their Hindi equivalents, you will often simply swap the 'B' back to a 'V' to find the familiar Hindi word (e.g. बानर -> वानर).
4. Examples from the Manas
As we encounter new words in the Manas that follow this rule, we will catalog them here: