The Raman-active phonons in orthorhombic perovskite like YMnO3 and LaM
nO3 were studied by measuring Raman spectra in various scattering conf
igurations. The experimental Raman line wave numbers and the expected
shapes for the phonon modes were compared to those reported for other
perovskite like compounds with the Pnma structure and to the results o
f lattice dynamical calculations. The observed Raman lines in the spec
tra of YMnO3 and LaMnO3 were assigned to definite atomic motions. The
much larger linewidths and strong variation of the Raman spectra with
increasing laser power in the case of LaMn03 provide evidence for a st
ructural instability that may result in a phase transition under laser
annealing.