Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T05:32:22.932Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

XXXII. Linguistic Relationship of the Shahbazgarhi Inscription

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Extract

In the discussion lately held as to how far Sanskrit was a spoken language, I drew attention to the points of resemblance which existed between the so-called ‘Dard’ languages and the language employed by Aśōka in the Shāhbāzgaṛhī inscription. During the past few months I have been examining all these languages with considerable minuteness, and hope to publish the results of my studies after a reasonable period. In the meantime I have been pressed to give further details regarding the connection between ‘Dard’ and Shāhbāzgaṛhī. I therefore submit the following list of phonetic parallels. I have taken the Shb. examples entirely from M. Senart's analysis of the Kapur di Giri inscription in the Indian Antiquary, vol. xxi (1892), pp. 8 ff. As for the ‘Dard’ examples, I intend them to be taken as preliminary to my more extended account which I hope to publish at a future date. I must therefore ask leave to make a few explanatory statements in anticipation. Miklosich and Pischel have shown reasons for assuming that these ‘Dard’ languages are modern representatives of the old Paiśācī Prākrit described by Hēma-candra. My researches have amply corroborated this suggestion, and I now call these languages, not ‘Dard’ (which is an unsuitable name), but ‘Modern Paiśācī.’ It will be noticed that I sometimes refer derivations to the Avesta, and sometimes to Sanskrit.

Type
Original Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1904

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

page 725 note 1 See Miklosich, , Ueber die Mundarten und die Wanderungen der Zigeuner Europa's, ix, 4Google Scholar, 28: Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Zigeunermundarten, i, ii, 15 ff., iv, 51 ; Pischel, Grammatik der Prākrit-Sprachen, 28.

page 726 note 1 E.g. Vedic Skr. k kavāku, K. kakawak, a fowl.