________________
38
INTRODUCTION TO ARDHA-MĀGADHI
[S. 57.
thus that the mutes are the strongest and the semi-vowels the weakest. The labio-dental nature of v makes it stronger, while the clear contact of 1 makes it still stronger. This will explain why v and y, I and , behave differently in groups.
GROUPS WITH MUTES
58 Only hard and soft consonants can form conjuncts ..among themselves. A soft consonant cannot form a group with a hard one and vice versa. In these groups the assimilation is regressive i.e. the second member prevails over the first. The aspiration, if present, remains at the end of the group.
The earliest trace of such an assimilation is to be found in the voicing of the stop when followed by a voiced stop (Sk. tat + bhavati = tadbhavati). Later on the first lost its distinct articulation though preserving its time and voice (Sk. uccă from ut cf. Av. ušca; maji- from * madj-). The aspiration if present in the group is thrown at the end in such cases as Sk. budh + ta = buddha.
59 Surd + surd = second surd doubled : y = free; # = TFT red; C = 349 a group of six ; 9246 = super bee; yra = proper ; 377472 = 31747 attached ; H = HT devotion; JEBOT = JST eagerness; a = 00TC force; 3445=304 lotus; prom=quyfta good man; ya=ge slept; संलप्तसंलत्त spoken.
60 Surd + aspirated surd = second doubled : Ray = fraer wealth ; RATY = FARU Sling ; Brela = 3e dug up.
61 Sonant + sonant = second doubled : ns = art sword; Tofia = mia six groups of living beings; 9555 = utapes matter ; ghost = dwarf; 36H = GTTH origin ; ggc = gogu bubble; शब्द-सद्द sound.
62 Sonant + sonant aspirate = second doubled : Ta = The milk; FETTE = FANTE glossy; yra = y simple; 3153 =