Assimilation Of Conjuct Consonants In Prakrit And Greek

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The paper by Dr. Haripriya Mishra argues that Middle Indo-Aryan (specifically Prakrit) and Greek, despite their different linguistic origins, exhibit significant similarities in the process of assimilation of conjunct consonants. The author posits that this comparison substantiates the claim that Greek, from a linguistic change perspective, is comparable to Middle Indo-Aryan, a field that has been relatively neglected in Indo-European comparative grammar.

Core Argument:

The central thesis is that both Prakrit and Greek, in their evolution, have mechanisms to deal with consonant clusters (conjunct consonants), primarily through assimilation, although the specific rules and outcomes differ.

Key Observations and Comparisons:

• General Rule:

  • Prakrit: Generally disallows heterogenous conjuncts, either assimilating them or inserting an anaptyctic vowel.
  • Greek: Allows many heterogenous conjuncts but also features assimilation.

• Assimilation Principles:

  • "Second Prevails" Rule: Both Prakrit and Greek follow the principle where, between two equal consonants, the second consonant prevails (e.g., k+t > tt in Prakrit; d/t+p > pp in Old Greek).
  • Consonant Strength:
    • Prakrit: Orders consonants by strength in decreasing order for assimilation: Mutes > nasals > d > S > V > y > r.
    • Greek: Shows the reverse order of strength when dealing with unequal consonants.

• Specific Assimilation Patterns:

  1. Mute + Nasal:

     • Prakrit: Mute prevails, and the nasal is assimilated (e.g., Skt. agniḥ > Pkt. aggi).
     • Greek: Nasal prevails, and the plosive becomes a class nasal (e.g., pb/ph-tm > mm; bn > mn; gn > gn). This is a significant point of divergence.

  2. Mute + Liquid (l):

     • Prakrit: Mute prevails, and 'l' is assimilated (e.g., Skt. valkala > Pkt. vakkala).
     • Greek: Liquid prevails, and the plosive is assimilated (e.g., dl > ll). Again, a reversal of the Prakrit pattern.

  3. Mute + Sibilant (s):

     • Prakrit:
       • If 's' comes first (st), it's assimilated, and the mute becomes aspirated (e.g., st > atthi).
       • If 's' follows the mute (ts), they become 'cch' (e.g., Skt. vatsa > Pkt. vaccha).
       • S+mute is generally assimilated (e.g., Skt. apsara > Pkt. acchara).
     • Greek:
       • S+mute is not assimilated (e.g., gkt > esti).
       • Mute+sibilant is sometimes assimilated, often resulting in gemination of the sibilant (e.g., t/th/d+s > ss; pod+si > possi).

  4. Mute + V (v):

     • Prakrit: 'v' is assimilated, and the mute prevails (e.g., Skt. pakva > Pkt. pakka).
     • Greek: Unassimilated 'v' is often lost or becomes 'u', though some traces of assimilation exist. The paper notes 'v' does not precede another consonant in clusters, similar to 'l'.

  5. Mute + R (r):

     • Prakrit: 'r' is assimilated, and the mute prevails (e.g., Skt. marga > Pkt. magga; Skt. cakra > Pkt. cakka).
     • Greek: 'r' with a mute has varied treatments, often resulting in assimilation, but it's not a straightforward "mute prevails" rule like in Prakrit. Some examples show assimilation of 'r' (e.g., med hyos > messos), while others show it retained (e.g., IE pro > pra).

Conclusion:

The author concludes that while both Prakrit and Greek exhibit assimilation of conjunct consonants, the differences in consonant strength and specific assimilation rules are notable. The paper highlights that Greek is more akin to Prakrit than Sanskrit in its assimilation processes, as Sanskrit generally does not assimilate heterogenous conjuncts in internal sandhi. The study emphasizes the value of comparing these seemingly disparate languages to understand linguistic evolution.

Cited Works:

The paper includes a bibliography referencing several key works on Greek grammar, Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Indo-European linguistics, indicating a scholarly basis for the comparisons made.