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CHAPTER TWO
Historical Apabhramsa Phonology
12. The Apabbramsa language, as already seen, is the continuation of the popular language of the Vedic society.
Its morphology and syntax will be discussed in the following chapters. Phonologically, it is not much different from Prakrit and Pali, which had already suffered notable changes.
(a) In pali : (i) The diphthongs ai and au had become e and o respecti
vely. (ii) ș was replaced by a, i and u in different positions. (iii) The conjunct consonants were assimilated in the follow
ing way : 1. The conjunction of two different stops resulted in the doubling of the last; e.g. khadga (sword)> khagga, etc.
2. The conjunction of semivowel/nasal and stops resulted in the doubling of the stops; e.g. alpa (few)> appa, nagna (nacked)> nagga, etc.
3. The conjunction of semivowel and nasal resulted in the doubling of the nasal; e.g. dharma (law)> dhamma, etc.
4. The conjunction of two different nasals resulted in the doubling of the last; e.g. janma (birth)>jamma, nimna (low) ninpa, etc.
