Brief Survey Of Phonetics And Grammar As Found)In The Bhagawati Sutra

Here's a comprehensive summary of J.C. Sikdar's "A Brief Survey of Phonetics and Grammar as Found in the Bhagavati Sūtra":

This work by J.C. Sikdar provides a detailed examination of the phonetic and grammatical features present in the Bhagavati Sūtra, a significant text in Jainism. The analysis highlights linguistic variations and evolution, offering insights into the language used in this canonical work.

Phonetics:

The survey meticulously details various phonetic changes observed in the Bhagavati Sūtra's language, illustrated with numerous examples.

• Sonants (Vowel and Semi-vowel Changes):

  • Initial 'p' often changes to vowels like 'a', 'i', 'u', 'e'.
  • Initial 'ṛ' optionally becomes 'ri'.
  • 'ḷ' develops an initial 'a'.
  • 'r' is frequently represented by 'i' or 'u' in certain contexts.
  • Vowel changes within the same word are observed.
  • 'r' in the first member of a compound can change to 'u'.

• Vowels:

  • The diphthongs 'ai' and 'au' are represented by 'e' and 'o' respectively.
  • Lengthening and Shortening: Vowels undergo occasional lengthening and shortening. Short vowels are often lengthened as compensation for dropped or simplified conjunct consonants. Lengthening also occurs before 'eva' and at the end of prefixes or in vocative singulars. Long vowels are frequently shortened due to accent shifts, stress, proximity to conjunct consonants, or the presence of nasals.
  • Elevation of Vowels: Vowel elevation is noted, particularly in the first and final vowels of prefixes, and in other contexts.
  • Dropping of Initial Vowels: Several instances of initial vowels being dropped are identified.
  • Assimilation of Vowels: Vowels in neighboring syllables can assimilate to each other.

• Anusvāra: The anusvāra (nasal sound) is frequently used, often added to adverbs after final vowels and to noun endings in various cases and numbers.

• Consonants:

  • Vocalization: Intervocal consonants, especially 'k', are vocalized, often becoming 'g'.
  • Dropping: Intervocal weak consonants are frequently dropped. However, intervocal 'g' often remains. Intervocal 'c' and 'j' are dropped and replaced by 'y' for ease of pronunciation.
  • Retention: Intervocal 't' and 'd' generally remain. Intervocal 'p' is often dropped and replaced by 'v'. Intervocal 'y' often remains.
  • Change of Initial Consonant: Initial 'k' can become 'kh'. Initial 'p' can become 'ph'. Medial 'p' can become 'bh' or 'v' through 'ph'.
  • Aspiration: 'g' can become 'gh' in rare cases. Nasals and semivowels undergo aspiration. Aspiration can appear in other consonants and syllables, and loss of aspiration also occurs.
  • Palatalization: Dentals sometimes occur as palatals.
  • Transition: 't' can transition to 'd'.
  • Cerebralization: Cerebralization is found in many instances.
  • Assimilation of Conjunct Consonants: Assimilation involves dropping one member of a conjunct consonant and doubling the remaining one. 't' class consonants before 'y' are substituted by corresponding 'c' class consonants. Doubling of conjunct consonants is also common.
  • Svarabhakti (Anaptyxis): Conjunct consonants are simplified by inserting a vowel.
  • Insertion of Conjunct Consonants: Conversely, unconjungated consonants are sometimes replaced by conjunct consonants.
  • Syncope: Dropping of initial syllables is observed.
  • Metathesis: Interchange of syllables within a word occurs.
  • Samprasarana: 'y' and 'v' transform into 'i' and 'u' respectively.
  • Varṇāgama: Insertion of sounds, particularly 'm', at the beginning of the last word in compounds is noted.

Grammar:

The grammatical analysis focuses on several key areas of the Bhagavati Sūtra's language.

• Sandhi (Word Formation):

  • In compounds, individual members generally retain their original forms without sandhi, unless similar vowels come together.
  • Rules are observed regarding the dropping of final vowels of the first member before double consonants, and the non-formation of sandhi with dissimilar vowels.
  • Specific vowel combinations ('a' + 'u', 'a'/'ā' followed by long vowels) and their sandhi rules are detailed.
  • The omission of 'a' at the end of the first member before dissimilar vowels is noted.
  • The particle 'na' (not) forms sandhi with initial vowels of verbs.

• Gender and Number:

  • Variations in gender and number agreement are common.
  • Neuter nouns are often used as masculine, with nominative singulars ending in 'e'.
  • Neuter 'an' stems can become masculine in 'a' or remain neuter.
  • Dialectal forms are used for neuter nominative and accusative plurals derived from masculine 'a' stems.
  • Masculine 'u' stems can also have neuter plural forms.
  • Neuter forms are sometimes used for feminine nouns.
  • The dual number is primarily used for numerals.

• Other Grammatical Features:

  • The particles 'o' or 'to' are used as expletives.
  • The use of 'ya śruti' for word division and the dropping of 'ta' in verb forms reflect influences from early and later Middle-Indo-Aryan stages.

• Declension:

  • Masculine: Detailed declension patterns for masculine nouns are provided for nominative, accusative, instrumental, dative, ablative, genitive, locative, and vocative cases, in both singular and plural.
  • Feminine: Similar declension patterns are presented for feminine nouns with 'ā', 'i', and 'u' stems, highlighting case endings and variations.
  • Pronouns: While a complete survey is not possible, it is noted that pronouns generally follow the same declension rules as nouns, with gender and number agreement. Examples for first, second, and third person pronouns are given.

• Verbs:

  • Two main classes of verbs are identified: those ending in 'a' and those ending in 'e'. Other verb endings are also noted.
  • Conjugation patterns for present indicative, imperative, perfect, and future tenses are illustrated with examples.
  • The formation of optative and causative verbs is explained.
  • Passive voice formation is discussed.
  • Various participle forms (present, past, potential) and gerunds/absolutes are detailed, including irregular absolutes imported from Sanskrit.
  • Infinitive formation is also covered.
  • Abstract nouns are formed with the suffix 'tta'.
  • Comparative and superlative degrees are constructed using 'tara' and 'seyam' respectively.

In conclusion, Sikdar's "Brief Survey" offers a valuable linguistic analysis of the Bhagavati Sūtra, revealing the dynamic and evolving nature of the language used in this significant Jain text. The study highlights a range of phonetic shifts and grammatical constructions that provide crucial insights into the historical development of Prakrit languages and their relationship with Sanskrit.