Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 366

$$ 90-95 ]
ON THE MODERN INDO-ARYAN VERNACULARS
[OCTOBER, 1931
In Bihāri, rustics are almost unable to distinguish between r and I, and in Sindhi the change is very common. In Hindi, the change of 1 to 7, sometimes occurs, but to nothing like the same extent as Sindhi and Bihari.
90. It is well known that in NWIAV. and in Dardio the cerebral and dental letters are frequently confounded. It was the same in Vrācada Ap. (Mk., xviii, 5). In the Thali dialect of Lahndā, d regularly becomes d. This also is occasionally the case in EIAV. Thus (da kşinah) L. dakkhan or da khona, . dakhiņā, south; Bg. A. dain, O. dahan, right; Bg. dal., H. V dal., to rub small; Bg. dail or dail, split pease; Skr. darvikā, Pr. davvia, Bg.dāvu, a ladle. In A. cerebrals and dentals are often confounded in pronunciation (A. Gr. 9). In Hindi d is sometimes cerebralized, but this is generally due to special causes, such as the proximity of another cerebral letter. So also Skr. dādimaḥ, Bg. dalim, a pomegranate. In Bengali, cerebrals and dentals are usually distinguished but the cerebrals are not pure cerebrals, the contact of the tongue with the palate being more forward, and almost alveolar.
91. Kašmiri under the influence of a neighbouring palatal sound, frequently changes d to j, and d to z. With this cf. M. nij<nidrā, sleep; S. gijhu (grdhrah), a vulture ; Pr. dhia, Bg. jhi, 0. jhia, A. ji, a daughter.
92. In NWLAV. and (preferably) in EIAV. mb becomes m or mm, while Hindi prefers b. Thus (jambukah) L. jam& or jaml s. jamd, Bg. 0. jām, but H. jabū (but sometimes jamun); (nimbah) L. nim, 8. nim", B. Bg. O. nim, A. nim but H.ntb (or nim); (lambah) L. lammā, B. lāmā, EH. lām, but H. Bg. lambā, long; (kambalah), 8. kamir", B. kammar, kamari, EH. kammal, but H. Bg. kambal (? Ts.), M. kabal, and many others. Cf. Hl. Gd. Gr. 20. In the same section Hl. points out that the development of y in the North-West is the same as in EIAV.
93. In Kāšmiri and all the Dardio languages a medial r is very frequently elided (Ps. L. 122). This has not been specially noted in NWIAV., but occurs occasionally in H., and is common in colloquial ELAV. E.g., EH. B. kai for kar, having done ; EH. B. dhai for dhar. having placed ; Coll. Bg. mailām, 1 for marilam, I died.
1 S. K. Chatterji (Bg. Gr. Ch., 187), derives malla- directly from mala + ila, and this is, no doubt, possible, through Mg. Pr. mada-illaor mada illa- (Mk., sii, 34, 35). But I prefer the explanation given above, for the old Bg. of Candi Das drops the also in the causal, and has mailo (for marilo, mdrilam), I killed. The explanation of the derivation from mrta- does not apply here.
94. The change of 6 or 8 to h is one of the typical peouliarities of NWIAV. Examples are (busam) S. buh, chaff ; (upavisati, uvaisai) S. bihê, he sits. The same change is common not only in Dardic, but also in vulgar Gujarātī, as in hamajavů for samaj“vũ, to understand, etc. Except in sporadic instances, we do not meet this again till we reach EIAV. Thus (pasul) B. pöhē, cattle ; (gośālam) B. gohal, & cowhouse. In A., uncompounded 8 and 8 always become a voiceless guttural spirant, transliterated by x; thus rastra for tāstra, scripture ; xa, for sa, a hundred ; xangrām, for sangrām, a fight. The most important exception to this general statement is the Hindi optional future formed with h, as in H. (Br.) märihai, he will strike. This, however, is certainly borrowed from the literary Māhārāştri Prakrit marihai, as there is no h- future in Saurasēni, from which Hindi is descended. It will be observed that in H. this is only one of several optional forms. Mh. Pr., as the language of lyrio poetry, had great influence all over India (see $ 60).
95. While Hindi has only a dental 8, those QUIA Vs. that do not change & to h often change an original a to 6. In Marathi & is used before palatal vowels and a before nonpalatals, irrespective of derivation. In Bihāri is always written, and a is always pronounced. In Bengali and Oriyā every sibilant becomes & in pronunciation. With this may be compared the changes that sibilants (compounded and uncompounded) undergo in Māgadhi Pr. We thus see that while H. prefers a dental 8, all OuIAV. treat sibilants with great freedom.
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