What are the Middle Indo-Aryan languages, and how do they relate to other Indo-Aryan language stages?

The Middle Indo-Aryan languages, also known as Middle Indic languages, form a historical group within the Indo-Aryan language family. They represent the linguistic stage that evolved from Old Indo-Aryan (OIA) and served as the direct predecessors to the modern Indo-Aryan languages.

What is the estimated chronological span for the Middle Indo-Aryan (MIA) linguistic stage?

The Middle Indo-Aryan stage is generally considered to have spanned more than a millennium, typically dated between 600 BCE and 1000 CE.

How is the Middle Indo-Aryan period typically divided into distinct phases?

The Middle Indo-Aryan period is commonly divided into three major subdivisions: an early stage, a middle stage, and a late stage, reflecting different phases of linguistic development.

What languages or texts are representative of the early stage of Middle Indo-Aryan?

The early stage of Middle Indo-Aryan is represented by languages found in significant texts such as the Edicts of Ashoka (circa 250 BCE), the Jain Agamas, and the Buddhist Tripitakas. Key languages from this period include Ardhamagadhi and Pali.

What is the literal meaning of the term Prakrit, and how does it relate to Sanskrit and Middle Indo-Aryan languages?

The term Prakrit literally translates to 'natural,' in contrast to Sanskrit, which means 'constructed' or 'refined.' This distinction highlights the historical view of Prakrits as vernacular developments from Sanskrit. Modern scholars sometimes use Prakrit broadly to include all Middle Indo-Aryan languages.

According to linguistic classification, what are the three major groups of Indo-Aryan languages?

The Indo-Aryan languages are commonly classified into three main groups that reflect stages of linguistic development: Old Indo-Aryan languages, Middle Indo-Aryan languages, and Early Modern and Modern Indo-Aryan languages.

What is the geographic distribution typically associated with the Middle Indo-Aryan languages?

The Middle Indo-Aryan languages were primarily spoken in Northern India.

What is the relationship between Middle Indo-Aryan languages and Classical Sanskrit, according to linguistic analysis?

Middle Indo-Aryan languages are younger than Old Indo-Aryan languages and were contemporaneous with the use of Classical Sanskrit for literary purposes. However, linguistic features suggest that MIA languages are not direct continuations of Vedic Sanskrit but likely descend from related, possibly more archaic, dialects.

Which languages or dialects are characteristic of the middle phase of Middle Indo-Aryan, dated between 200 BCE and 700 CE?

The middle phase is characterized by various literary Prakrits, most notably Shauraseni, Maharashtri, and Magadhi Prakrits. Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit, used in later texts, also belongs to this period.

What linguistic form represents the late stage of Middle Indo-Aryan, and what is its approximate time frame?

The late stage of Middle Indo-Aryan is represented by the Apabhraṃśas, which emerged around the 6th century CE and continued until approximately 1500 CE. These forms preceded the development of the early Modern Indo-Aryan languages.

What is Abahatta, and how does it fit into the late phase of Middle Indo-Aryan?

Abahatta is identified as Magadhi Apabhraṃśa, representing a linguistic form from the late stage of Middle Indo-Aryan, which is generally dated from 700 to 1500 CE.

What are some of the key phonological changes that differentiate Middle Indo-Aryan languages from their Old Indo-Aryan ancestors?

Key phonological changes include the replacement of vocalic liquids (like ṛ and ḷ) with vowels (a, i, u), the monophthongization of OIA diphthongs (ai to e, au to o), the shortening of long vowels in certain syllable types, and the reduction of the three OIA sibilants to a single sound (either ś or s).

How did the sibilant sounds of Old Indo-Aryan evolve in Middle Indo-Aryan languages?

The three distinct sibilant sounds present in Old Indo-Aryan were reduced to a single sibilant in most Middle Indo-Aryan languages. This single sibilant typically became either ś (as observed in Magadhi) or s (in other dialects).

Describe the typical changes observed in intervocalic stops from Old Indo-Aryan to Middle Indo-Aryan.

In Middle Indo-Aryan, intervocalic aspirated stops from Old Indo-Aryan generally became spirantized. Subsequently, other intervocalic stops were often weakened, deleted, or voiced.

What happened to most final consonants in the transition from Old Indo-Aryan to Middle Indo-Aryan?

Most final consonants were deleted in Middle Indo-Aryan languages. Exceptions included consonants occurring in sandhi junctions, and the final 'm' sound was typically preserved as 'ṃ'.

How did the dual number and consonantal stems change morphologically from Old Indo-Aryan to Middle Indo-Aryan?

The dual number, which existed in Old Indo-Aryan nominal declensions, was lost in Middle Indo-Aryan. Furthermore, consonantal stems were thematicized, meaning they were treated similarly to vowel stems in grammatical paradigms.

What happened to the dative case in Middle Indo-Aryan languages, and which case assumed its functions?

The dative case was eliminated in Middle Indo-Aryan languages. Its grammatical functions, such as indicating the indirect object or recipient, were largely absorbed by the genitive case.

How did the middle voice and passive voice grammatical moods change during the Middle Indo-Aryan period?

The middle voice, indicating an action performed by the subject for itself, eventually disappeared in Middle Indo-Aryan. For the passive voice, active verb endings began to replace the original passive endings.

What significant syntactic innovation emerged in Middle Indo-Aryan languages that influenced later North Indian languages?

A key innovation was the development of serial verb constructions, where multiple verbs are used sequentially. These constructions evolved into complex predicates found in modern North Indian languages like Hindi and Bengali.

Can you provide examples of serial verb constructions and explain their function?

Examples include bhāg jā (meaning 'go run') which signifies 'run away,' and pakā de (meaning 'give cook') which means 'to cook for someone.' In these constructions, the second verb modifies the meaning of the main verb or adds a specific nuance.

How did serial verb constructions contribute to the grammaticalization of light verbs?

The second verb in serial verb constructions gradually became grammaticalized further, evolving into light verbs. These light verbs are primarily used to convey distinctions in lexical aspect for the main verb.

What is the significance of Pali in the context of Middle Indo-Aryan languages?

Pali is exceptionally well-attested due to the extensive body of early Buddhist literature written in it, including canonical texts, commentaries by figures like Buddhaghosa, and doctrinal developments such as Abhidhamma.

What are 'Magadhisms' found in early Pali texts?

'Magadhisms' refer to linguistic features in early Pali texts that resemble the Magadhi dialect. Examples include the use of 'heke' instead of 'eke' and the masculine nominative singular ending in '-e'.

What was the role of the Pali Text Society concerning Pali literature?

The Pali Text Society, founded in 1881 by T. W. Rhys Davids, was established with the purpose of preserving, editing, and publishing texts written in Pali, along with their English translations.

What language do the Edicts of Ashoka represent, and where are they primarily found?

The Edicts of Ashoka, found in inscriptions primarily in regions now constituting Bihar, represent an early form of Ardhamagadhi, dating back to the 3rd century BCE.

What is Gandhari, and in which ancient region was it spoken?

Gandhari was a Middle Indo-Aryan language spoken in the ancient region of Gandhara, an area centered around the Khyber Pass. Texts in Gandhari were often written using the Kharosthi script.

What types of texts are commonly associated with the Gandhari language?

Gandhari texts are predominantly Buddhist in nature, encompassing canonical works that parallel the Pali Canon, as well as Mahayana texts.

What is Elu, and which modern languages are considered its descendants?

Elu, also known as Eta, Hela, or Helu Prakrit, was a Sri Lankan Prakrit language dating to around the 3rd century BCE. It is recognized as the ancestral language of the modern Sinhalese and Dhivehi languages.

What is Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit?

Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit refers to a form of Middle Indo-Aryan language that was used in the composition of later Buddhist texts. It is distinct from Classical Sanskrit.

What are the 'Dramatic Prakrits,' and which specific examples are mentioned in the text?

The Dramatic Prakrits are a group of Middle Indo-Aryan languages that were utilized in ancient Indian drama, particularly during the Maurya period. Key examples cited include Magadhi, Maharashtri, and Shauraseni Prakrits.

What is the linguistic classification of Middle Indo-Aryan languages within the broader language family tree?

Middle Indo-Aryan languages belong to the Indo-Aryan branch, which is part of the Indo-Iranian language family, itself a major branch of the larger Indo-European language family.

What specific phonological change affected the Old Indo-Aryan diphthongs 'ai' and 'au' in Middle Indo-Aryan?

The Old Indo-Aryan diphthongs 'ai' and 'au' typically evolved into the monophthongs 'e' and 'o' respectively in Middle Indo-Aryan. These sounds were long in open syllables and short in closed syllables.

How did the loss of the dual number impact the grammatical structure of Middle Indo-Aryan languages?

The loss of the dual number meant that Middle Indo-Aryan languages, unlike their Old Indo-Aryan predecessors, distinguished only between singular and plural forms for nouns and pronouns, simplifying the number system.

Which grammatical case was eliminated in Middle Indo-Aryan, and what case took over its functions?

The dative case was eliminated in Middle Indo-Aryan languages. Its grammatical functions, such as indicating the indirect object or recipient, were largely assumed by the genitive case.

What grammatical mood eventually disappeared during the Middle Indo-Aryan period?

The middle voice, a grammatical mood used in Old Indo-Aryan to indicate actions performed by the subject for its own benefit, eventually disappeared in Middle Indo-Aryan languages.

How did the pronouns 'mahyam' and 'tuvyam' evolve in Middle Indo-Aryan?

The Old Indo-Aryan pronouns 'mahyam' (for 'me') and 'tuvyam' (for 'you') evolved into forms primarily used for the genitive case (possessive). New forms like 'me' and 'te' emerged to express the instrumental case (indicating the means or agent).

What is the significance of the Glottolog code midd1350?

The Glottolog code midd1350 is a specific identifier used in linguistic databases to refer to the Middle Indo-Aryan language group.

What distinction do scholars like Michael C. Shapiro emphasize regarding the classification of Middle Indo-Aryan languages?

Michael C. Shapiro and some other scholars classify all Middle Indo-Aryan languages under the broad term Prakrits. Conversely, others highlight the independent development of these languages, differentiating them from Sanskrit based on social and geographical factors.

What specific change occurred to the 'i-' and 'u-' declensions in Middle Indo-Aryan?

In Middle Indo-Aryan, the declensions based on short 'i-' and 'u-' stems merged with those based on long 'ī-' and 'ū-' stems, resulting in a unified declension pattern characterized by the long vowels 'ī-' and 'ū-'.

What is the role of the genitive case in Middle Indo-Aryan compared to its role in Old Indo-Aryan?

In Middle Indo-Aryan, the genitive case expanded its function to absorb many roles previously held by the eliminated dative case. Thus, it was used not only for possession but also to express the indirect object or recipient of an action.

What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes the Middle Indo-Aryan languages from Old Indo-Aryan languages in terms of their relationship to Sanskrit?

Middle Indo-Aryan languages are younger than Old Indo-Aryan languages and coexisted with Classical Sanskrit, which remained a literary language. However, MIA languages are not direct continuations of Vedic Sanskrit but likely evolved from related, possibly more archaic, dialects.

What phonological change affected long vowels in Middle Indo-Aryan languages?

Long vowels in Middle Indo-Aryan languages tended to become short, particularly in 'overweight' syllables (those with a long vowel or ending in a consonant cluster) and later in pre-tonic and post-tonic heavy syllables.

How did the use of case endings change for verbal paradigms in Middle Indo-Aryan?

In Middle Indo-Aryan, a variety of different case endings could be used for a single verbal paradigm, indicating a greater flexibility or a less standardized system compared to Old Indo-Aryan.

What is the linguistic classification of Elu, and what geographical area is it associated with?

Elu, also known as Hela Prakrit, was a Sri Lankan Prakrit language. It is recognized as the ancestral language of the modern Sinhalese and Dhivehi languages.

What is the relationship between Ardhamagadhi, Pali, and the Edicts of Ashoka?

Ardhamagadhi, particularly an early form, is the language of the oldest Jain sutras and is also represented in the Edicts of Ashoka from around 250 BCE. Pali is the language of the Buddhist Tripitakas, and both are considered key examples of the early stage of Middle Indo-Aryan.

Middle Indo-aryan Languages Wiki: The Linguistic Tapestry: Middle Indo-Aryan Voices

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What are Middle Indo-Aryan Languages?

Linguistic Bridge

The Middle Indo-Aryan (MIA) languages, also known as Middle Indic languages, represent a historical stage in the evolution of the Indo-Aryan language family. They are the direct descendants of Old Indo-Aryan (OIA), exemplified by Vedic Sanskrit, and serve as the predecessors to the modern Indo-Aryan languages spoken today, such as Hindi, Bengali, and Punjabi.

Time Span

This crucial linguistic phase is estimated to have spanned over a millennium, generally considered to be between approximately 600 BCE and 1000 CE. This period witnessed significant transformations that shaped the languages of the Indian subcontinent.

Prakrits and Stages

While often conflated with the term "Prakrit" (which literally means 'natural' or 'vernacular' as opposed to 'constructed' or 'refined' Sanskrit), MIA encompasses a broader developmental stage. Prakrits themselves represent a specific phase within Middle Indic. The MIA stage is typically divided into three major subdivisions reflecting this evolution.

Historical Phases

Early Phase (c. 3rd Century BCE)

The earliest attested forms of Middle Indo-Aryan are found in regional dialects used for inscriptions, such as the Edicts of Ashoka (circa 250 BCE). Key languages from this period include:

Ashokan Prakrits: Regional dialects found in inscriptions across the Mauryan Empire.
Pali: The liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism, notably used in the Tripitakas.
Early Ardhamagadhi: The language of the oldest Jain scriptures.
Gandhari: A Buddhist canonical language found in the northwest.
Elu: An ancient Sri Lankan Prakrit, ancestral to Sinhala and Dhivehi.

Middle Phase (c. 200 BCE - 700 CE)

This period is characterized by the flourishing of literary Prakrits, which were used extensively in drama, poetry, and religious texts. These languages developed distinct regional variations:

Shauraseni: Prominent in North India, often used for the speech of commoners in Sanskrit drama.
Maharashtri: Known for its poetic use, especially in lyric poetry.
Magadhi: Associated with the eastern regions.
Ardhamagadhi: Continued use in Jain literature.
Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit: A transitional form found in later Mahayana Buddhist texts.

Late Phase: Apabhramsa (c. 700 - 1500 CE)

Apabhramsa represents the final stage of Middle Indo-Aryan, serving as a direct precursor to the early Modern Indo-Aryan languages. These transitional dialects show further phonetic and grammatical simplification:

Forms like Abahattha (a form of Magadhi Apabhramsa) bridge the gap.
These languages laid the groundwork for vernaculars like Braj Bhasha and early forms of other modern North Indian languages.

Linguistic Features

Phonological Shifts

MIA languages exhibit significant sound changes compared to Old Indo-Aryan:

Vocalic liquids (ṛ, ḷ) typically became vowels like 'a', 'i', or 'u'.
OIA diphthongs 'ai' and 'au' simplified to monophthongs 'e' and 'o'.
Long vowels often shortened, especially in certain syllable positions.
The three distinct sibilants of OIA (ś, ṣ, s) were reduced to one, varying by region (e.g., 'ś' in Magadhi, 's' elsewhere).
Consonant clusters were simplified, often through assimilation (creating geminates) or vowel insertion (epenthesis).
Intervocalic stops (consonants between vowels) tended to weaken or disappear.

Morphological Evolution

Grammatical structures also underwent notable changes:

The dual number in noun declensions was lost, leaving only singular and plural.
Consonantal stems were often adapted to vowel stems (thematicized).
The genitive case frequently absorbed the functions of the lost dative case.
Verb conjugations simplified, with the loss of the middle voice and changes in active/passive endings.

Grammatical Innovations

A significant innovation in MIA is the development of serial verb constructions. These involve combining two or more verbs to express a single complex action or aspectual nuance. For example, in modern Hindi, constructions like 'bhāg jā' (run go) meaning 'to run away' or 'pakā de' (cook give) meaning 'to cook for someone' originate from these MIA developments. These constructions evolved into grammaticalized light verbs in many modern North Indian languages.

Key Attested Languages

Pali

Pali is exceptionally well-attested due to its central role in Theravada Buddhism. Its extensive corpus includes canonical texts, philosophical treatises (Abhidhamma), and commentaries by scholars like Buddhaghosa. Early Pali texts often contain "Magadhisms," suggesting influence from or relation to the Magadhi Prakrit.

Ardhamagadhi

Primarily known from the widespread inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka, Ardhamagadhi was also the language of the earliest Jain Agamas. Its presence in Ashoka's edicts highlights its significance across a broad geographical area during the early MIA period.

Gandhari

Discovered primarily in the Gandhara region (around the Khyber Pass), Gandhari texts are written in the Kharosthi script. These are largely Buddhist texts, often paralleling the Pali Canon, but also include Mahayana scriptures. Gandhari represents a distinct dialectal development within MIA.

Elu

This Sri Lankan Prakrit, attested from the 3rd century BCE, is the direct ancestor of both the modern Sinhala and Dhivehi languages. Inscriptions like the Thonigala Rock Inscriptions provide valuable evidence of its form and usage.

Language Family Overview

Middle Indo-Aryan
Middle Indic
Geographic distribution	Northern India
Linguistic classification	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Indo-Aryan Middle Indo-Aryan
Language codes
Glottolog	`midd1350`

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References

Shapiro, Michael C. (2001), "Hindi", in: Facts About the World's Languages: An Encyclopedia of the World's Major Languages, Past and Present, eds. Jane Garry and Carl Rubino: New England Publishing Associates.

"The most archaic Old Indo-Aryan is found in Hindu sacred texts called the Vedas, which date to approximately 1500 BCE". EncyclopÃ¦dia Britannica - Indo-Aryan languages. General characteristics.

South Asian folklore: an encyclopedia : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, By Peter J. Claus, Sarah Diamond, Margaret Ann Mills, Routledge, 2003, p. 203

A full list of references for this article are available at the Middle Indo-Aryan languages Wikipedia page

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This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not linguistic advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional linguistic consultation or academic research. Always refer to scholarly sources and consult with experts for in-depth study.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

The Linguistic Tapestry

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

What are Middle Indo-Aryan Languages? 🗣️

🔗 Linguistic Bridge

🗓️ Time Span

📜 Prakrits and Stages

Historical Phases ⏳

🌱 Early Phase (c. 3rd Century BCE)

🏛️ Middle Phase (c. 200 BCE - 700 CE)

🚀 Late Phase: Apabhramsa (c. 700 - 1500 CE)

Linguistic Features 💡

🔊 Phonological Shifts

✍️ Morphological Evolution

🔄 Grammatical Innovations

Key Attested Languages 📚

🧘 Pali

👑 Ardhamagadhi

🗺️ Gandhari

🏝️ Elu

Language Family Overview 🌳

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Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

What are Middle Indo-Aryan Languages?

Linguistic Bridge

Time Span

Prakrits and Stages

Historical Phases

Early Phase (c. 3rd Century BCE)

Middle Phase (c. 200 BCE - 700 CE)

Late Phase: Apabhramsa (c. 700 - 1500 CE)

Linguistic Features

Phonological Shifts

Morphological Evolution

Grammatical Innovations

Key Attested Languages

Pali

Ardhamagadhi

Gandhari

Elu

Language Family Overview

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice