met. of aspir. 4

From: cewhalen
Message: 71903
Date: 2018-06-30

S    Sanskrit

Pl    Paaluulaá
A    AtsHareetaá \ (older *Paaloolaá)

Ti    Torwali \ Turvali


The relationship between these Skt words for ‘ram’ (among others):


me:d.ha- = *ram S;
me:d.hra- = ram S;
me:n.d.ha- = ram S;

bhe:d.a- = ram S;
bhe:d.ra- = ram S;
bhe:n.d.a- = ram S;


allows a simple equ. of:


me:d.ha-    :  bhe:d.a-
me:d.hra-   :  bhe:d.ra-
me:n.d.ha- :  bhe:n.d.a-


which is best expl. as met. of features then simplification
m-d.H > mH-d. > bH-d.
in each pair (or only once in in an older more complex rec.).


The presence of old words with mH from various sources in Ind-Ir is seen by current l. like Pl /  A:


ma:ráyati (caus) S; >> mari- = kill Kh; mHaar- A;

ma:Msá-m (neu) = flesh S; >> mHaá~s = meat/flesh A;


in which aspir. caused an added low tone, seen even in Dardic l. in which vcd. aspir. were lost, showing
that these aspir. sonor. were Proto-Dard.


This is best seen in

me:n.d.ha- = ram S; >> mínd. = ram A;
min.d.óol = young male sheep A; mìnd(H)ë`l = male sheep Ti;

in which the dim. adds low tone (with spreading) before opt. dH > d


The simplification of mH > bH in Skt strengthens the case for those who believe *-mis and *bHis (etc.)
go back to a single form, such as complex *-m-xYos > *-mH(y)os or sim. (with opt. m > mH before
laryngeals just as g > gH or gH > g in the same env.).


Sim., bh / m alt. in:

kit.ibha-m = ~exanthema S;
kit.ima-m = ~leprosy S;


Also, a sim. equ. in:

bhe:d.a- = ram, bhed.i:- = ewe S;
ed.a-s = ~sheep, ed.i:- = ewe S;

might also show changes seen in Dardic, such as:

mH > M > w > XW > h

if voiceless h>0 in that env. in Skt.