________________
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1902.
As Dr. Lanfer must know, it has been proved, with the help of the different West-Tibetan dialects, that the orthography of the classical language is in accordance with the ancient pronunciation. The further we advance to the West, the more the actual pronunciation of a word is in accordance with the orthography of the classical language, and the number of homonyms diminishes rapidly. Thus, the pronunciation of the Balti and Purig dialects exhibits signs of very great antiquity and almost compulsorily leads to the correct writing of many words. The fixing of the few doubtful names of the Kesar Saga will probably depend on the Balti and Purig versions of the Saga. Although I do not myself live in Baltistan or Purig, for two years I have been in the enjoyment of the advantages of the dialect of Lower Ladakh, which comes very near to those of Baltistan and Parig.
148
Here is a list of the most prominent characteristics of the dialect of Lower Ladakh :
(1) pr, phr, br, py, phy and by are always pronounced as they ought to be in accordance with the orthography of the classical language.
(2) In many cases the otherwise silent prefixes of Lower Ladakhi words are pronounced, if the preceding word ends in a vowel.
(3) In many other cases, those prefixes are pronounced distinctly as s, r, and sh.
(4) In all other cases the silent prefix influences the pronunciation (a) of the following tenuis, as has been stated in my Ladakhi Grammar; (b) of the following media. My Munshi has often tried to teach me, for instance, the different pronunciation of bu, boy, and 'abu, worm (with a silent prefixed 'a). Although I was able to hear a slight difference, I never succeeded in imitating his pronunciation, nor in stating what its nature was. Probably many of the Tibetan dialects have still vast fields open to phonetic research.13
Now, if we examine Dr. Lanfer's etymologies of the name of 'a.Brugums, it becomes evident, that they are not at all well founded. It is impossible to derive the name from grogsmo, friend, because the name is never pronounced Druguma or Drugmo in Lower Ladakh, but Bruguma and Brugmo. Nor would it be right to derive the name from 'a Brogno, woman from the Steppe. Although the scientific treatment of the Tibetan dialects is still in its infancy, it has become evident that vowels cannot be exchanged in them according to one's pleasure. At present only a few suggestions can be made: a shows a certain inclination to become e; but e probably never becomes a (thus, if a dialectical form shows a instead of e, as for instance stang instead of steng, the dialectical form is perhaps the original). If the perfect stem of the verb could be proved to be the original, we might add that a also shows a certain inclination to become o. As regards the change from o to u, or from u to o, in a closed syllable, i. e., between two consonants, I doubt that it would be possible to produce many examples. I do not know of a single one. But if Dr. Lanfer wishes to place 'abrogmo side by side with 'a Bruguma, he will be obliged to produce a number of parallels to show the probability of the change of the vowel. Here in Khalatse both of the words, 'abroymo and 'a Bruguma, can be heard, the one as often as the other; but nobody would ever think of a connection between them.
As regards my translation of the name 'a Bruguma by a little grain,' it ought not to be called an etymology, because I leave the word as I find it and simply say what is its meaning according to colloquial Ladakhi. If Dr. Lanfer charges me with 'pressing etymologies out of the words just to suit my purpose,' he does not, I think, treat my work fairly.
13 Dr. Lanfer in his Bühngedicht der Bonpo attributes some importance to the orthographical mistakes of Tibetan M88. He is inclined to consider many of them as being influenced by the modern dialects. As far as my experience goes, great caution has to be taken here. In consequence of the inclination of the tenues to be pronounced like media, the ordinary man is never certain about the actual value of either of them; hence a great number of orthographical mistakes. They are a very unsafe foundation for researches in the field of Bandhi laws and similar questions. The ear of the European student alone will have to decide.
