Amrita Collected Papers by A M Ghatage

SR No.: 006968
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: Kasturbhai Lalbhai Smarak Nidhi Ahmedabad
Total Pages: 530
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 10 MB

Page 14

A Basic Tendency of Prākrit Languages
conjunct consonant separating the two sounds into two syllables marked by the plosion between the two, no such syllabic division is possible in the earlier type. In fact -tr -is nothing but the sound -t- the explosion of which takes the form of the sound -r- and a conjunct like -pl- has the explosion of the mute -p- in the form of a lateral sound. -ty- would normally be a palatal -t- sound. In all these cases the sound would not be such as can be strictly called a conjunct which can be split into two parts the first of which attaches itself to the preceding syllable and makes it a close one. In other words, if the sounds are exactly what they are written, they would not make position and make the preceding syllable long. That some of the Sanskrit groups were and are of this type is evident from the fact that groups like -tr, .pl- can begin a word in the language as in trāyasva, plavate or tyāga. But when such groups occur in the body of a word they necessarily make position and are always so treated. This can only be possible on the supposition that in actual pronunciation they were real conjunct consonants and involved a long consonant as the first member. In ordinary orthography they were as good as * puttra, *'sattya, *vipplava and so on. Such a sound of these words can also be inferred from the fact that there was no difference of sound in the groups of words like sattra and putra though, following etymology, we write sat-tra (from sad- and tra) but pu- tra(from pu- and tra). In view of the rules of doubling given by the Sanskrit phoneticians, which pertain more to sounds than to writing, it cannot be imagined that the long consonant in sattra was shortened, and we are led to think that the simple -t-in words like putra was germinated. And this is in full agreement with the actual sounds. Once this thing is clear we can see that the change of these groups into Prākrit -tt-, ppor -cc- does not involve a case of assimilation but only that of simplification. The double consonant is found sufficient for keeping the syllabic structure of the word and the following peculiar type of explosion is superfluous for that purpose, with the result that it gives place to the normal type of explosion. In short, it disappears leaving behind a long consonant. Such a supposition alone can explain the change of ty- to cc-where the consonant itself is palatalized.
This principle is best verified on a limited type of change like the development of a glide of a sound like -b- in words of the nature of Sanskrit tāmra, āmra becoming Prākrit tamba, amba etc. That in a group like mr-, mla glide sound like -b- is prone to arise is obvious from the physiological point of view. It is the natural result of the lack of a very fine adjustment of the vocal organs; where the soft palate goes up a moment too soon and gives rise