Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 62
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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§§ 194-197]
ON THE MODERN INDO-ARYAN VERNACULARS
a
have representing u as well as u. The vowel also occurs sometimes in Tatsamas, as in matra (sg. nom. mother), Skr. mutra-, urine, and stra- (sg. nom. sathar), Skr. sutra-, a string; but in words of this class, u generally becomes (§ 236). Specially instructive are the words tsah thou, and zah, two. In both these, the h is hu-e-muxtafi, and can be disregarded. The word ts" is derived from tu, through *tyu (§ 226a), with consequent zetacism (§ 326) to *tsū. Similarly, 2 is < du > *dyu> *zū.
While u in Tadbhavas generally becomes ", we now and then find it represented by i, as if the word were a Tatsama (see § 236). Examples are tsin and tsur, powder, both derived from Skr. curṇam. These are apparently words borrowed from India, and, being borrowed, have been treated as if they were Tatsamas.
This same sound of a-maträ occurs in the neighbouring Pašto, an Eranian language, and is there simply an original a of which the sound has been obscured, as in zr, thousand, Av. hazañra- (GIP. I, ii, 207), but no reason for the obscuration has been given. In Kašmiri, in some cases the origin is manifestly the same, as in words like V prakt. (Skr. prakata-), to be manifest, and pairs such as zar- or zrav-, endure. Here the reason for the obscuration is as little clear as in Pašto. In a few words the origin may perhaps be connected with the presence of an r or r, as in gah-, grind (Skr. gharsati); khas-, pull the hair (? Skr. kargati); Vn, sell (Skr. (vi)kriņāti). For other roots I can offer no suggestion. Such are:Vdy-(? Skr. Vdev-); regret ; Vhal-, begin to be in labour; han-, swell; har-, increase; Vhsav-, incite; lah-, lay-, be sufficient: Vlhan-, delay ripening; Vrkav-, drag along the ground; rs-, go silently; Vrt-, be good; Vsad-, endure; Vss-, break wind; st-, force in; k-, run quickly; Vts-, thrust in.
It may be added that this peculiar a-mātrā of Kašmiri is not found in the IAVs. It appears only in the Padari dialect of Western Pahari, which borders on Kašmiri, and, as there, it causes epenthesis (§ 165).
[ JANUARY, 1933
194. Dardic. This sound has only been noted in Kašmiri. It is merely the vowel "epenthetically affected by a following vowel. Thus, pr. r, good; fem. rts, pr. ts; masc. plur. rati, pr. raiti. See § 126.
195. IAV. a. There is no vowel of which the pronunciation varies so greatly in the IAVs. as a. See § 105.
As a rule a an original Pr.a, as in ghar, a house, < Ap. gharu, and in the examples given in § 190. The same is the case in Dardic, as in Ks. gara, a house.
196. aa. The shortening of a to a is common under the influence of the stress accent (sce § 171), as in H. kasis, from Skr. käsisaḥ; M. kamáū, that which earns, from häm, work. So in G., especially before an accented i, as in bhat for bhai, a brother; khainē for khāinē, having eaten. Also, when a finds itself in the antepenultimate of a Tbh. word it is shortened to a in H.P. and B. (Bh.). Thus, H.P. Rám wā; lg.fm. of Rām, N.Pr.; Bh. kháibo, I shall eat, from kha..
In those languages which possess the letter ǎ, it is usually a, not a, which is used when ā is shortened. These are principally Bg.B. (exc. Bh. which prefers a) and M. (see §§ 143, 171 b. d.) This, however, is not always the case, as in M. kamau, just quoted. So also Skr. cámarakam, a fly-whisk, Bg. cámarà; bālu, sand, EIAV. lg.fm. balua or tǎluă.
In Dardic, there are instances of the shortening of a to a. See § 176.
1 Cf. G.Ph., JRAS., 1921, 354.
197. a. According to Pr.Gr. § 115, this does not occur in Pr. In the 1AVs. it is common in unaccented syllables. Thus :
Ap.
Skr. vibhutih, ashes
104
STs. G.P.H. bhabút, or bhabhút, S. babhút.
