Introduction to Ardhamagadhi

Author(s): A M Ghatage
Publisher: School & College Book Stall

Page 24

S. 12.)
ALPHABET, SOUNDS AND VOCABULARY
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them. Frequently the Anusvāra represents all the nasal consonants, particularly in groups. The writing makes no distinction between -y- and -j-śruti, and -v- and -v-śruti.
9 SYLLABLE. The syllabic nature of the writing does not always give the correct division of the syllable in actual pronunciation. The division of a syallable in writing is always after the nature of the graphic figure. In actual sound, however, the syllable may be (i) a single vowel : a-hu-ņā, lo-a; (ii) a vowel followed by a consonant : ek-ka, et-tha; (iii) a consonant followed by a vowel : ta-hā, ma-hā; (iv) a vowel preceded and followed by a consonant : tat-tha, jet-tha. So we find that (a) an intervocalic consonant goes with the following vowel (b) in a conjunct the first consonant goes with the preceding vowel (c) an Anusvāra belongs to the previous syllable (d) two successive vowels form different syllables, as the language shows no diphthongs.
10. QUANTITY. The short vowels or single consonants followed by short vowels have the value of one mātrā, while long vowels or single consonants followed by long vowels have the value of two mātrās. A closed syllable has the value of a long syllable. The Anunāsika does not change the quantity of a syllable but Anusvāra makes it long.
11 STRESS. Nothing is known about the musical accent current in Old Indo-Aryan. Pischel regards for Ardha-Māgadhi an accent on the same place as the Vedic accent but having the effects of a stress. In the present-day pronunciation, a weak expiratory accent follows the method of Classical Sanskrit. In words of two syllables the first is accented (käma, váya) ; in words of three syllables, the penultimate is accented if it is long (viyára) but the initial if the second is short (sáyala) ; in words of four syllables, the penultimate if it is long (pariņáma), the antepenult if the penult is short (maņóraha), and the first if both are short (sáppurisa, sáravara). In some cases we must assume an initial accent in spite of the penult being long (kúmāra)..
12 PUNCTUATION. The only punctuation mark used is a Danda (1) to mark the close of a sentence. A double Danda