Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 413

OCTOBER, 1932 ]
bhaktaḥ, food
kháṭvā, bed páka, ripe
jihvā, tongue
drkam, powder
168. Lengthening of short Vowels :
(1) According to Prakrit rule, when one of the members of a following consonantal nexus is elided a preceding short vowel is lengthened. In such cases, in the IAVs., the vowel is often nasalized (§ 184). It will be seen under the head of consonants that the tendency to lengthen these vowels is especially common in the EIAVs., but also occurs in the west. It is very rare in NWIAVS. and in Dardic in which the consonant is usually simplified without lengthening the vowel. Examples:
Skr. márgaḥ, road
úccah, úccakaḥ, high
CHANGE OF QUANTITY
Change of Quantity.
kánkanam, bracelet
simhaḥ lion
skándhakub shoulder
Ap. mággu
bháttu
khá là pikku, pákku
jibbhā
của màu
úccu, úccàu
[§ 168
mftyuḥ, death
miccu
We meet continually, even in the same language, all these forms coexisting, viz., the short vowel before the double letter, the long vowel before the single letter, and the nasalized long vowel. E.g., Skr. madhye, Pr. majjhi, O.H. majjh, majh or majh. These instances are, however, not always easy to quote, as usually one form only has been adopted by the literary language, and the rest are found only in rustic speech. For further information on this point see under the head of conjunct consonants §§ 273, 275. An important group of conjunct consonants demands special notice,-those which in Prakrit consist of a consonant preceded by a nasal consonant or anusvāra. As will be explained when dealing with consonants, the anusvara is either converted into the nasal of the class corresponding to the consonant to which it is attached and the consonant remains unchanged, in which case a preceding short vowel remains short, or else the anusvära is elided, and the preceding vowel is lengthened and nasalized in compensation. For further information see § 275. Sometimes both formis are used in the literary language in different meanings.
Examples:--
kánkaņu or kamkan u singhu or simghu
khándhau
87
M.G. mag, a road (G. room, space), H.P.G.B. mag, L. magh, parting of the hair, S. máng", a hair-chain. Bg. må, vulva; cf. IAV. V may- or mag-, ask, but L. magan, S. mánan", Kš. mángun, to ask.
IAV. bhat, boiled rice, but L. bhat, S. bhát, Kě. báta.
IAV. khát, but L. khat, S. khát" M. pik, ripe crops; other IAVs. Vpak- or pakk- exc. L. pakS. pako, 'ripe.'
IAV. jibh, except L. jibh, S. jibh". Kš, zev, EPh. jibro. See also §175. H.P.B.Bg.O.L. cúnà, Ks. tsin,
tsir, but G. cuno, M. cuná, S. cún", EPh.A. cun, line. G.S. co, H. fica, B.Bg.O. ic, M. unc (for c), but P.L. úcca, A. ókha (pr. k). H. mic.
H. kánkan, P.G.M. kángan, S. kángan", Bg.O. ko gan.
IAV. generally singh (often written simk), or sigh.
H. ke dhà, P. kándhà, &c.