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MAHĀNISĪHA STUDIES AND EDITION IN GERMANY
14. LANGUAGE
14.0 Schubring characterizes the language of the MNA (MNSt.A,p.84) as Jaina Māhārāștri with at places weaker, at other places stronger infusion ("mit einem bald schwächeren, bald stärkeren Einschlag") of Ardhamāgadhi, and Hamm (MNSt.C,p.13) agrees with him quoting this very phrase. Deleu calls it "Jaina Māhārāştri in essence but blended with Ardhamāgadhi" (MNSt.B,p.1.10-11). It has been examined in detail by Schubring (MNSt.A, pp.84-95) and by Deleu (MNSt.B,pp.9-14), also by Hamm (MNSt.C, pp.13-14). With additions of some remarks by Schubring and Hamm, we reproduce the treatment of Deleu here as it is very systematic: 14.A, Deleu, paragraph 1-24 Par. 1-14 PHONETICS (... 9.Anaptyxis, 10.Analogical Doubling, 11. Assimilation,
12.Haplology, 13.Skt., 14.Sandhi) Par.15-21 MORPHOLOGY (I) Noun 15. Change of gender
16. Case-forms (A. Nom., B. Acc., C. Instr., D. Dat., E. Gen.) (II)
17. Adjective (III)
18. Numeral (IV)
19. Pronoun (V)
20. Verb (A. Pr.Ind., B. Opt., C. Fut., D. Part., E. Abs.) (VI) 21. Word-formation a. Suffixes, b. Intensive formations,
c. Inversion of cpds. d. Loose constructions, e. ca / vā Par.22-24. SYNTAX
22. Use of cases, 23. Use of verb forms, 24. False concord.
1-14
PHONETICS 1 On atthi (stri ) in atthi-bandho (II. $13.7) with shortening of -1 in the compound see MNSt.A,p.87-8 [with more than five instances and reference to R.Pischel, Gramm.d.PktSpr.29 $147,fn.1). 2. For o instead of u, Pischel,$77, has given a shrewd explanation: (aņa- = a-). This holds good for aạovautta (III. $26.4), aạovalakkha (III.$11.13), aạovavūhā (III. 93.9.5), anovasagga (II. $20.2) and aņovahāņa (III.$3.14.4 & 15); cf. MNSt.C,p.108 under aņovautta
29 Richard Pischel, Grammatik der Prākrit-Sprachen (Grundriß der Indo-Arischen Philologie und Altertumskunde, 1.8) Straßburg 1900. Abbr.:"Pischel". References are to the paragraphs. --Also compare R. Pischel, Hemacandra's Grammatik der Prākritsprachen ... Pt.1,2. Halle 1877,1880. Abbr.: "Hc". -CBT]