On 2006-08-03 16:00, Joao S. Lopes wrote:
> Is there any explanation for why varn.a (caste) has this retroflex R ?
>
> Why not varna?
The so-called "nati" rule in Sanskrit makes any /n/ retroflex if
preceded by /r/ (also syllabic /r./) or /s./. The rule is non-local,
which means that it doesn't even require the nasal to be contiguous
with the segment that causes the retroflexion, as in <pra-n.aya->
'leader' (where even the morphological boundary doesn't block the
rule) and <bra:hman.a->. There is, however, no retroflexion if the /n/
is immediately followed by a dental stop, or if /l/ or any coronal
(dental, palatal or retroflex) stop or nasal intervenes between the
/r, r., s./ and the /n/.
Piotr