Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 370

§§ 370-371 ]
mek,
ram
ON THE MODERN INDO-ARYAN VERNACULARS
máhişi, a shebuffalo
nire hayati, he accomplishes.
minadaü (*mhadhu)
mahisi
nivváhĕi
[ DECEMBER, 1933
M. medha, G. medho, P. méḍha, H. EPh. bhếṛā (for mheḍā), G. also bhed, B. O. meṛā, méṛhā, bhērā, Bg. mera, bherā, A. mēr, and sTs. mex; L. (fem.) bhed, a ewe. Bloch (FLM, 390) connects this word with Skr. mēdhra-, mendha-, but these words appear to me to be themselves secondary, Prakrit, formations on the lines of the IAV. words, taken back into Sanskrit.
M. mhais, H. EH. B. Bg. P. bhais, G. bhas, EPh. bhaisi (m. and f.). WPh. has mahish, L. majh (§ 363), S. mehe, manjha. G. M. L. Vide, P. y nibbu, H.-, S. V nibhái. H. S. P. also nibah-.
Other examples are S. bhen", L. bhän, G. vhän (H. bahin), a sister; H. bhukh (Ap. buhukkha), hunger; H. nihór- (Skr. nirödhayati), solicit; H. (Br.) bha, for waha, there; bhaut, for bahut, much (also CPh. and L.). This is very common in G. and R. (Cf. OWR. Gr. § 51.) Thus R. (J.) khāṇī, for kahani, a story; mharaj, for mah"ráj (Skr. maharajaḥ, note the shortening of the first à under the accent rules), a king. mháro, for maháró, H. hamára, our; thārō, for tuharo, your; jhair, for Prs. zahr, poison (LSI. IX, ii, 33); khai, for kahi, she was said; bhaito, for bahrto, flowing. So G. bahwalu (Skr. villabbkam, Ap. vállahàu), a doll; mhārāni, for mahārāni, a queen, &c. (G. Ph. § 72 (4), LSI. IX, ii, 330). In G. hunu or unů (Skt. usna-, Pr. unha-) the aspiration of nh has been transferred to the beginning of the word as h.
370. Closely corresponding to the above is the transfer of aspiration from one consonant to another in the same word, as in M. Vjhuj-, for jujh (Skr. yudhyate, Pr. jujjhai), to fight (H.Vjujh-). This also is especially common in R. as in (J.) V phar-, for parh-, read; char-, for carh, ascend; khumar, for kumhär, a potter; bhagat, for bakhat, i.e., Ar. waqt, time (§ 124); (Mlv.) Vkhar-, for karh-, drag; (Nimadi) nhak-, for nakh-, throw. So CPh. (Km. Sōriyāli)
dhek-, for dekh-, see; (Km. Phaldakōṭiyā) phaith-, for paith-, begin; (Cf. LSI. IX, ii, 33; iv, 238, 202). So, again, Bg. bhäp, O. bhāpa, steam (Skr. bäspaḥ, Pr. bappho).
This metathesis of aspiration, like other metatheses, occurred in Skr. (Wk. § 239a). Closely parallel to the IAV. examples just given are forms such as Skr. Vbudh-, know; but bhut, knowing; böbhölsi, thou knowest much, and so on; duh, a milker, nom. sing. dhuk; dhattaḥ for dadh-tah, they two place, and so on.
371. Metathesis occurs sporadically in Dardic, just as in the IAVs. Thus, Kš. mahaniv", a man, for *manahiv"), Skr. manusya-; V. Vnus-, for sun- (H. sun-), hear; Av. cvant-; V. pseh (through *sp, for cv), what? Av. Skr. V car-, Kh. Vroch-, graze; S. ašpō or (dial.) apš, a horse.
Especially common is metathesis of r, as in Shb. dhrama-, for dharma-, and so on. In Shb. these are not instances of careless writing as usually stated, but, as shown by Dardic, are genuine cases of metatheseis (see Grierson, JRAS. 1913, 682 ff.). Thus Skr. datra- (only used by Northerners, Nirukta, II, i, 4), Sindhi datro, L. datr, but Ks. drāt", a sickle; Skr. karna, Kl. kro, an ear; Skr. parna, Kl. pron, a leaf; Skr. dirgha-, Kl. driga, M. liga, S. žigo (both land representing dr, sec § 287), long; Skr. karman-, S. krom, a work; Skr. prasasta>*prahasta->*phra(y)asta->Ks. phrest- (sg. nom. phrest", pr. phryust"), excellent.
184