Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c26.s22.t3: 6.22.3 Substitution of voiced with voiceless consonants in loanwords and Prakrit inscriptions
Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c26.s22.t3
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6.22.3 Substitution of voiced with voiceless consonants in loanwords and Prakrit inscriptions
c26.s22.t3.1
Voiced consonants even in the loanwords from Prakrit are systematically replaced in all positions by the corresponding voiceless consonants (with the solitary exception cited above).⁵
c26.s22.t3.2
⁵ See section 6.21 for more examples. See also Etymological Index: Indo-Aryan (Appendix V).
c26.s22.t3.3
| (e.g.) Initial | *gaṇi* > *kaṇi* | 'title of a senior Jaina monk' | 1.1 |
| | *dānaṁ* > *tāṉa* | 'gift' | 19.4 |
| Intervocalic | *udayana* > *utayaṉa-* | 'a personal name' | 24.5 |
| | *nigama* > *nikama-* | 'merchant guild' | 3.4 |
| Postnasal | *nanda* > *nanta-* | 'a personal name' | 1.2.a |
| | *kuṭumbika* > -*kuṭumpikaṉ* | 'householder' | 55.2.b |
c26.s22.t3.4
A tendency towards replacement of voiced consonants and sibilants with voiceless consonants is seen even in some of the contemporary Prakrit inscriptions on inscribed objects found in the Tamil country:
c26.s22.t3.5
(e.g.) *bhāvatatasa* for *bhavadattasa* (Pkt. legend on a gold ring from Karur).¹
*cāmutaha* for *śamudaha* (Sinh. Pkt. inscription on pottery from Alagankulam).²
c26.s22.t3.6
¹ See No. 10, Table 1.8.