Some Prosodic Aspects of Retroflexion and Aspiration in Sanskrit

Abstract

Under the traditional titles of Assimilation and Dissimilation, we are presented with two linguistic phenomena apparently involving a principle similar to that which is known in physical science as ” action at a distance ”—-regularly in the latter case, occasionally in the former (under special titles, such as “dilation”, “Fernassimilation”). The classical example of this type of assimilation is provided by the Sanskrit “cerebralization” (nati) of n, with reference to which the term “action à distance” has, in fact, been used. In connection with the physical principle, it may be of interest to recall Newton's words:—“It is inconceivable that inanimate brute matter should, without the mediation, of something else which is not material, operate upon and affect other matter without mutual contact.”Speech-sound, of course, is not “brute matter”, and it would be a dangerous and unnecessary principle to submit linguistics to physical criteria, but Newton's uneasiness may at least serve to lead us to a reconsideration of similar postulates of our own science. Amongst these the conception of an articulation A at one point in the temporal dimension exercising a form of “gravitational influence” upon an articulation B at a distant point would appear to be one that is only tolerable faute de mieux.The whole principle of assimilation in descriptive linguistics has already been assailed more than once, on the ground that the implied change is only metaphorical, having reference to a hypothetical “basic” form derived from the consideration of other contexts or of earlier stages of the language, and leading to such definitions as “the extension of an element of articulation out-side its proper sphere”.

Nasalization, Neutral Segments and Opacity Effects

“…A theoretical consequence is that [nasal] spreading (and all feature spreading) takes place only between adjacent segments, finding new support for the concept of strict segmental locality in feature spreading (after a proposal of Ní Chiosáin and Padgett 1997;cf. Gafos 1996; foundational analyses appear in Ní Chiosáin and Padgett 1993;McCarthy 1994;Flemming 1995b;Padgett 1995a; for related ideas see Allen 1951;Stampe 1979). …”

Attenuated Spreading in Sanskrit Retroflex Harmony

“…Sanskrit orthography distinguishes retroflexion only in coronals. It follows that retroflexion in non-coronals is effectively hidden structure (granting also the impossibility of instrumental study) and free to follow from analytical and typological considerations (Allen 1951: 940ff, Steriade 1995 Step 2. m(u :ã H )e:na…”

“…11 Indeed, Macdonell (1910), whom he cites, leaves this interpretation open. Allen (1951) claims that the suppressing retroflex may be at most one vowel away from the target (on which, see below), but omits any mention of morphological conditioning.…”

“…Even in 1951, Allen could already refer to nati as 'only too well-known' (940). Half a century later, Gafos (1999: 177, 209) could identify it as both 'notorious' and 'a prototypical case of long-distance assimilation', though most analyses, including Allen (1951) and Gafos (1999), analyze it as strictly local spreading. These various strains of research are cited as relevant below.…”

χθwv;, ‘RUKI’, AND RELATED MATTERS: A REAPPRAISAL

“…In Sanskrit the growing influence of the indigenous Indian languages could have influenced the selection of the r e t r~f l e x~~ as the dominant variant24 (and retroflexion later established itself as a characteristic prosodic feature: cf. Allen 1951Allen /1970 In Avestan there developed prosodic processes of palatalization and labiovelarization (e.g. in 'epenthesis', as aciti, aFuuruS, etc.…”