Some Topics in the Development of OIA MIA NIA

Author(s): H C Bhayani
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 39

11. Doubling of a single consonant
following a long vowel
According to Pischel (Prakrit Grammar, § 90) “when the original word had its accent on the final syllable a long vowel preceding a simple consonant is often shortened and the simple consonant is duplicated'. He has also noted the treatment of this change by indigenous Prakrit grammarians.' Jacobi held a different view but Pischel brushes it aside saying, The entire polemic of. Jacobi, KZ 35, 375 ff. against Pischel, KZ 35, 140 ff. does not alter in the least the situation, which may be explained by stating that a consonant is often reduplicated before a tonic syllable’. (Note 1 on $ 90)
Unfortunately I have not got access to Jacobi's paper referred to by Pischel, but in my view the explanation of doubling of the consonant after a long vowel in Prakrit words with the help of accent is very much doubtful and shaky, smacking of arguing in a circle, because we have no positive and reliable information what soever regarding accentuation in Prakrit. So long as the controlling factor or factors cannot be definitely pointed out, it is preferable to account for this sporadic change as a tendency or habit of the speakers. I note below some instances of such Prakrit words especially those in which a single consonant following i or u is doubled. For information on the development of the particular form reference to the relevant entries of Turner's Comparative Dictionary of Indo-Aryan Languages is given (IAL) Sk.
Pk. kulūta kulaa, H. kullu
3348 krida- kiờda- 'sport'
3592 nida. nedda- 'nest'
7541 styāna- thiņņa- (G. thinu) 'congealed' 13731 sthūla- thulla- 'fat
6389 duküla “silken cloth’ dugulla