Indian Antiquary Vol 07

SR No.: 032499
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 386
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 347

DECEMBER, 1878.) TRACES OF A DRAVIDIAN ELEMENT IN SINDHI.
293
TRACES OF A DRAVIDIAN ELEMENT IN SINDHI.
BY REV. GEORGE SHIRT, M.R.A.S. M UCH has been done of lato years to elu- school without pronouncing the last two words
U cidate the nature and structure of the Governmenta iskila. The following Sindhi Sindhi language; but the labours of those who sentence will illustrate my statement :- Min have written with authority-among whom Dr. sánusi anjámi kiyo, 'I entered into an engageTrumpp stands" facile princeps"-still leave a ment with him.' Here we see that each word large and most difficult field open for farther ends in either a nasal or a very short vowel ; investigation.
and if sentences were to be accumulated a thouIt is quite true that Sindhi is a daughter of sand fold the result would be the same, withont a the Sanskrit language, but at the same time single exception. Bishop Caldwell, in his it must be borne in mind that it is not alto- Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian Langether of pure blood. The essential parts of guages, makes the following statements :-" In its grammar are undoubtedly of Sanskrit grammatical written Telugu every word without origin; but one very important property-its exception must end in a vowel; and if it has use of pronominal affixes-connects it with the not naturally a vowel of its own u is to be suffixed Iranian languages, though it far outstrips to the last consonant. This rule applies even them in the use of them. Most of the words to Sanskrit derivatives • *. Though this that are from Sanskřit we can easily trace to u is always written, it is often dropped in protheir source, and the same may be said of nunciation. In modern Canarese a similar rule the words brought in from Arabic and Per- holds * • . The Tamil rule with regard sian by the Muhammadans; but when all the to the addition of u to words which end in a Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian words have consonant accords with the rule of the ancient been eliminated there is still a large residuum Canarese. On the same authority I learn that of such words as Mr. Beames, in his Compara- this vowel is extremely short, as it is in fact tive Grammar, calls deshists-s0 large, in fact, in Sindhi, where, however, it may be a, i, ori. that it would almost be possible to compose a The principle is apparently one and the same discourse and use only this class of words. both in Sindhi and the Dravidian languages : Whence have these words come? There can, but it is all the more remarkable that in Sindhi I imagine, be little doubt that they are a rem. it has survived the combined infinence of the nant of the language spoken in Sindh before Aryan, Iranian, and Semitic tongues. the Aryan immigration, which probably drove 2. There are some neuter verbs in Sindhi the Dravidian part of the ancestors of the which perform the office of passives, though Brahuis to the hills, and incorporated some of they are not constructed upon the same princithe inhabitants of Sindh into its lowest caste. ple as passive verbs in Sindhi generally are. If so many pre-Sanskritic or deshist words The passive voice in Sindhi is formed in the are to be found, it becomes an important and same way as it is in Sanskrit, only that Sindhi interesting question whether Sindhi grammar makes j, not y, the sign of the passive; but shows any traces of a similar influence. I this is merely following out a general law in believe such traces are to be found.
the language, as y in Sanskrit becomes j in 1. Every word in Sindhi must either end in Sindhi. The following verbs, however, are a vowel or a very slight nasal. This vowel is exceptions to the general role: a very short one, and is hardly perceptible to
pirpant to be found, to be obtained. foreign ears-at least Englishmen and Persians
jdpănit to be born.
dhopă nú to be washed. generally fail to pronounce it. The existence of
mdpāņi to be measured. such a thing becomes palpable enough when a
khăpănă to be expended. Sindhi speaks English, unless great pains have
dhápõnŭ to be satiated. been taken with his pronunciation. He cannot chhupănă to be touched (by any polluted thing). tell you that he has studied in the Government dhápánt to issue (as milk from the breast).
Dr. Caldwell's Comparative Dravidian Grammar, 2nd ed. p. 17.