Proto-Indo-Iranian language

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Proto-Indo-Iranian
Proto-Indo-Iranic (PIIr)
Reconstruction of Indo-Iranian languages
Region Eurasian Steppe
EraLate 3rd m. BCE
Reconstructed
ancestor
Lower-order reconstructions

Proto-Indo-Iranian, also called Proto-Indo-Iranic or Proto-Aryan, [1] is the reconstructed proto-language of the Indo-Iranian branch of Indo-European. Its speakers, the hypothetical Proto-Indo-Iranians, are assumed to have lived in the late 3rd millennium BC, and are often connected with the Sintashta culture of the Eurasian Steppe and the early Andronovo archaeological horizon.

Contents

Proto-Indo-Iranian was a satem language, likely removed less than a millennium from its ancestor, the late Proto-Indo-European language, and in turn removed less than a millennium from its descendants: Vedic Sanskrit (of the Rigveda) [2] and Old Avestan (of the Gathas).

It is the ancestor of Indo-Aryan languages, the Iranian languages, and the Nuristani languages, predominantly spoken in the Southern Asian subregion of Eurasia.

Descriptive phonology

Proto-Indo-Iranian consonant segments
Labial Coronal Palatal Velar Laryngeal
dental/alveolarpost-alveolarfirstsecond
Plosive voiceless *p*t*ć*č*k
voiced *b*d*ȷ́*ǰ*g
aspirated ***ȷ́ʰ*ǰʰ*
Fricative voiceless *s*š*H
voiced (*z)(*ž)
Nasal *m*n
Liquid (*l)*r*r̥
Semivowel *y*w
PII vowel segments
High *i (*ī)*u (*ū)
Low *a *ā

In addition to the vowels, *H, and * could function as the syllabic core. In many reconstructions, instances of *iH and *uH occur instead of *ī and *ū.

Two palatal series

Proto-Indo-Iranian is hypothesized to have contained two series of stops or affricates in the palatal to postalveolar region. [3] The phonetic nature of this contrast is not clear, and hence they are usually referred to as the primary or first series (*ć *ȷ́ *ȷ́ʰ, continuing Proto-Indo-European palatovelar *ḱ *ǵ *ǵʰ) and the second or secondary series (*č *ǰ *ǰʰ, continuing Proto-Indo-European plain and labialized velars, *k, *g, *gʰ and *kʷ, *gʷ, *gʷʰ, in palatalizing contexts). The following table shows the most common reflexes of the two series (Proto-Iranian is the hypothetical ancestor to the Iranian languages, including Avestan and Old Persian): [4] [5]

PIIProto-Indo-AryanSanskritProto-IranianAvestanOld PersianNuristani
*ćś ([ɕ])ś ([ɕ])*tssθċ ([ts]) / š
*ȷ́j ([dʑ])j ([dʑ])*dzzdj ([dz]) / z
*ȷ́ʰźh ([dʑʱ])h ([ɦ])
*čc ([tɕ])c ([tɕ])*čččč
*ǰj ([ɖʐ])j ([dʑ])*ǰǰǰǰ / ž
*ǰʰźh ([ɖʐʱ])h ([ɦ])

Laryngeal

Proto-Indo-European is usually hypothesized to have had three to four laryngeal consonants, each of which could occur in either syllabic or non-syllabic positions. In Proto-Indo-Iranian, the laryngeals merged as one phoneme /*H/. Beekes suggests that some instances of this /*H/ survived into Rigvedic Sanskrit and Avestan as unwritten glottal stops as evidenced by metrics. [6]

Accent

Like Proto-Indo-European and Vedic Sanskrit (and also Avestan, though it was not written down [7] ), Proto-Indo-Iranian had a pitch accent system similar to present-day Japanese, conventionally indicated by an acute accent over the accented vowel.

Historical phonology

The most distinctive phonological change separating Proto-Indo-Iranian from Proto-Indo-European is the collapse of the ablauting vowels *e, *o into a single vowel, Proto-Indo-Iranian *a (but see Brugmann's law). Grassmann's law, Bartholomae's law, and the ruki sound law were also complete in Proto-Indo-Iranian.

A fuller list of some of the hypothesized sound changes from Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Indo-Iranian follows:

PIEPIISanskritAvestanLatinEnglishGlossary
*ḱm̥tóm*ćatámśatámsatəmcentumhund(red)id
*ǵónu*ȷ́ā́nujā́nuzānugenūkneeid
*ǵʰimós*ȷ́ʰimáshimáziiā̊hiems'winter' / 'snow'
*kʷós*káskáskaquiswhoid
*gʷṓws*gā́wšgausgaobōscowid
*gʷʰormós*gʰarmásgharmásgarəmaformuswarm'warmth, heat'
PIEPIISanskritAvestanLatinEnglishGlossary
*ḱléwos*ćráwasśrávassrauuaclueō'fame, honour, word'
*wĺ̥kʷos*wŕ̥kasvŕ̥kasvəhrkalupuswolfid
*gʷʰormós*gʰarmásgharmásgarəmaformuswarm'warmth, heat'
PIEpre-PIIPIISanskritAvestanLatinEnglishGlossary
*déḱm̥*dáćm̥*dáćadáśadasādecemtenid
*gʷm̥tós*gm̥tás*gatásgatágataventuscome'come, gone'
*n̥bʰrós*n̥bʰrás*abʰrásabhráaβraimber'rain, cloud'
PIEPIISanskritAvestanEnglishGlossary
*ubʰtós*ubdʰássámubdhaubdaēnaweb, weave'woven' / 'made of woven material'
*wr̥dʰtós*wr̥dᶻdʰásvr̥ddʰávərəzda'grown, mature'
*dʰéwgʰti*dáwgdʰidógdhi*daogdidaugh(·ter)'to milk'
PIEPIISanskritAvestanLatinEnglishGlossary
*wisós*wišásvíṣasvišavīrus'poison, venom'
*ḱeHs-*ćH̥šamaśiṣamsīšā'teach!'
*ǵéwseti*ȷ́áwšatijóṣatizaošōgustus'to like, taste'
*kʷsép-*kšáp-kṣáp-xšap-'darkness'
*plúsis*plúšišplúṣi*frušipūlex'flea, noxious insect'
*nisdós*niždásnīḷá/nīḍá*niždanīdusnest'nest'
PIEpre-PIIPIISanskritAvestanLatinEnglishGlossary
*h₁oḱtṓ*Haćtā́*Haštā́aṣṭáaštaoctōeight'eight'
*dr̥ḱtós*dr̥ćtás*dr̥štásdr̥ṣṭádərəšta'seen, visible, apparent'
*mr̥ǵt-*mr̥ȷ́d-*mr̥žd-mr̥ḷ-/mr̥ḍ-mərəžd-'to forgive, pardon'
*uǵʰtós*uȷ́dʰás*uždʰásūḍhá*uždavectorweight'carried'
PIEpre-PIIPIISanskritAvestanLatinEnglishGlossary
*h₂éḱs-*Háćšas*Háššasákṣaašaaxisaxle'axle, shoulder'
PIEpre-PIIPIISanskritAvestanLatinEnglishGlossary
*-kʷe*-kʲa*-ča-ca-ča-que'and'
*gʷih₃wós*gʲiHwás*ǰiHwásjīvásjuuōvīvusquick'alive, living'
*gʷʰénti*gʲʰánti*ǰʰántihántijaiṇti-fendit'slays'
PIEpre-PIIPIISanskritAvestanLatinGlossary
*deh₃tórm̥*daHtā́rm̥*daHtā́ramdātā́ramdātārəmdatōrem'giver' (accusative singular)
PIEPIISanskritAvestanLatinEnglishGlossary
*dédeh₃ti*dádaHtidádātidadāitidat'to give'
*h₃dónts*Hdántsdantdantandēnstooth'tooth'
*bʰréh₂tēr*bʰráHtābhrā́tr̥brātarfrāterbrother'brother'
*wṓkʷs*wā́kšvā́kvāxšvōx'voice'
  • Following a consonant, and preceding a consonant cluster
PIEPIISanskritAvestanLatinGlossary
*ph₂tréy*pitráypitrépiθrēpatrī'father' (dative singular)
  • Following a consonant and word-final
PIEPIISanskritAvestanGlossary
*-medʰh₂*-madʰHi-mahi-maidī/-maiδi(1st person plural middle ending)
PIEPIISanskritAvestanLatinEnglishGlossary
*ph₂tḗr*pHtā́pitā́ptāpaterfatherid
PIEPIISanskritAvestanGlossary
*bʰéh₂geti*bʰáǰatibhájatibažat̰'to divide, distribute'

Subsequent sound changes

Among the sound changes from Proto-Indo-Iranian to Indo-Aryan is the loss of the voiced sibilants *z, *ẓ, *ź; among those to Proto-Iranian is the de-aspiration of the PIE voiced aspirates.

Proto-Indo-European and Indo-Iranian Phonological Correspondences [18]
PIE O.Indc/VS Av PIE OInd/VSAv
*p>pp*ph̥₂tḗr "father"pitā́ "father"pitar- "father"
*b>bb*bél- "strong"bálam "strength"
*bʰ>bhb*réh₂tēr "brother"bhrā́tār- "brother"brātar- "brother
*t>tt*tuHóm "thou"tuvám "thou"tvəm "thou"
*d>dd*dóru "wood"dā́ru "wood"dāru- "wood"
*dʰ>dhd*oHnéh₂- "grain"dhānā́- "grain"dāna- "grain"
*ḱ>śs* "ten"śa "ten"dasa "ten"
>jz*ǵónu "knee"jā́nu "knee"zānu- "knee"
*ǵʰ>hz*ǵʰimós "cold"himá- "cold, frost"zəmaka- "winterstorm"
*k>k ~ cx ~ č*kruh₂rós "bloody"krūrá- "bloody"xrūra- "bloody"
*ket "may he run"tačat̰ "may he run"
*g>g ~ jg ~ ǰ*h₂éuges- "strength"ójas- "strength"aoǰah "strength"
*h₂ugrós "strong"ugrá- "strong"ugra- "strong"
*gʰ>gh ~ hg ~ ǰ*dl̥Hós "long"dīrghá- "long"darəga- "long"
*dleHistos "longest"drā́ghiṣṭhadraǰišta- "longest"
*kʷ>k ~ ck ~ č*ós "who"káḥ "who"kō "who"
*e "and"ca "and"́ča "and"
*gʷ>g ~ jg ~ ǰ*ou- "cow"gav- "cow"gau- "cow"
*ih₃wós "alive"jīvá- "alive" OPer: ǰīva- "living"
*gʷʰ>gh ~ hg ~ ǰ*gʷʰnénti "strike" (pl.)ghnánti "strike" (pl.)
*gʷʰénti "strikes"hánti "strikes"ǰainti "strikes"
*s>ss ~ h*septm̥ "seven"saptá "seven"hapta "seven"
*h₁ésti "is"ásti "is"asti "is"
*y>yy*yugóm "yoke"yugam "yoke"yuga- "yoke"
*w>vv*wéǵʰeti "drives, rides"váhati "drives"vazaiti "travels"
*m>mm*méh₂tēr "mother"mātár- "mother"mātar- "mother"
*n>nn*nós "us"nas "us"nō "us"
*l>l ~ rr*kʷeleti "moves"carati "moves"caraiti "moves"
*r>rr*réh₂tēr "brother"bhrā́tār- "brother"brātar- "brother
*n̥>aa*- "un-"a- "un-"a- "un-"
*m̥>aa*tóm "hundred"śatám "hundred"satəm "hundred"
*l̥>ərər*wĺ̥kʷos "wolf"vŕ̥ka- "wolf"vəhrka- "wolf"
*r̥>ərər*ŕ̥d- "heart"hŕ̥d- "heart"zərəd- "heart"
*i>ii*linékʷti "leaves"riṇákti "leaves"irinaxti "releases"
*e>aa*déḱm̥ "ten"dáśa "ten"dasa "ten"
>āā*h₂nr "man"nā "man"nā "man"
*a>aa*h₂éǵeti "drives"ájati "drives"azaiti "drives"
>āā*méh₂tēr "mother"mātā́ "mother"mātar- "mother"
*o>a ~ āa ~ ā*ǵómbʰos "tooth, peg"jā́mbha- "tooth, tusk"
*ǵónu "knee"jānu "knee"zānu- "knee"
>āā*oHnéh₂- "grain"dhānā́- "grain"dāna- "grain"
*u>uu*yugóm "yoke"yugám "yoke"yuga- "yoke"
>ūū*mū́s "mouse"mū́ṣ- "mouse" NPer mūs "mouse"
*h₁>*h₁ésti "is"ásti "is"asti "is"
*h₂>*h₂ŕ̥tḱos "bear"ŕ̥kṣa- "bear"arəša- "bear"
*h₃>*h₃ókʷs(i) "eye"ákṣi "eye"aši "eye"
*h₄>*h₄órǵʰis "testicle"ərəzi- "testicle"
Proto-Indo-IranianOld Iranian (Av, OP) Vedic Sanskrit
*Háćwas "horse"Av aspa, OP asa áśva
*bʰaHgás "portion, share"Av bāgabhāgá
*bʰráHtā "brother"Av, OP brātarbhrā́tr̥
*bʰúHmiš "earth, land"OP būmiš bhū́mi-
*mártyas "mortal, man"Av maṣ̌iia, OP martiyamártya
*mā́Has "moon"Av mā̊, OP māhamā́s
*wásr̥ "spring"Av vaŋharvásara "morning"
*Hr̥tás "truth"Av aṣ̌a , OP arta r̥tá
*dʰráwgʰas "lie"Av draoγa, OP draugadrógha "using malicious words"
*sáwmas "pressed (juice)"Av haoma sóma-

Morphology and basic vocabulary

Proto-Indo-Iranian has preserved much of the morphology of Proto-Indo-European (PIE): thematic and athematic inflection in both nouns and verbs, all three numbers (singular, dual and plural), all the tense, mood and voice categories in the verb, and the cases in the noun.

Personal pronouns (nominative case)

Pronouns, nouns and adjectives are inflected into the eight cases of PIE: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, vocative, ablative, locative and instrumental (with also a comitative/sociative meaning).

PronounPIEPII
I*éǵ > *eǵHóm*aȷ́Hám > *aȷ́ʰám
You*túh₂*túH
He*ey- (*eyóm?)

*

*ayám

*

She*séh₂*sáH
It*tód*tád
We*wéy > *weyóm*wayám
You (all)*yū́*yúH
They (m.)*tóy*táy
They (f.)*téh₂es*tā́s (or *táHas?)
They (n.)*téh₂*táH

Three examples of verbs

In verbs, the chief innovation is the creation of a passive conjugation with the suffix *-yá, with middle inflection. [19]

The following examples lack the dual plural and are conjugaten in the present tense.

"To bear/carry"
PronounPIEPII
I*bʰéroh₂ > *bʰéroh₂mi*bʰáraHmi
You*bʰéresi*bʰárasi
He, she, it*bʰéreti*bʰárati
We*bʰéromos > *bʰéroh₂mos?*bʰáraHmas
You (all)*bʰérete*bʰáratʰa
They*bʰéronti*bʰáranti
"To call/summon"
PronounPIEPII
I(*ǵʰéwyemi >) *ǵʰwéyoh₂mi?*ȷ́ʰwáyaHmi
You*ǵʰwéyesi*ȷ́ʰwayasi
He, she, it*ǵʰwéyeti*ȷ́ʰwáyati
We*ǵʰwéyomos > *ǵʰwéyoh₂mos?*ȷ́ʰwáyaHmas
You (all)*ǵʰwéyete*ȷ́ʰwayatʰa
They*ǵʰwéyonti*ȷ́ʰwáyanti
"To be" (athematic)
PronounPIEPII
I*h₁ésmi*Hásmi
You*h₁ési*Hási
He, she, it*h₁ésti*Hásti
We*h₁smós*Hsmás
You (all)*h₁sté*Hstʰá
They*h₁sénti*Hsánti

Examples of noun declension

Despite Proto-Indo-Iranian preserving much of the original morphology of Proto-Indo-European, an important innovation in the noun is the creation of a genitive plural ending *-nām used with vowel stems. [19]

The following examples lack the dual number.

Masculine noun

"Wolf"
CaseSingularPlural
Nom. PIE *wĺ̥kʷos > PII *wŕ̥kas PIE *wĺ̥kʷoes > PII *wŕ̥kā(s)
Gen.*wĺ̥kʷosyo > *wŕ̥kasya*wĺ̥kʷoHom > *wŕ̥kāna(H)m
Dat.*wĺ̥kʷoey > *wŕ̥kāy*wĺ̥kʷomos > *wŕ̥kaybʰyas
Acc.*wĺ̥kʷom > *wŕ̥kam*wĺ̥kʷoms > *wŕ̥kāns
Voc.*wĺ̥kʷe > *wŕ̥ka*wĺ̥kʷoes > *wŕ̥kā(s)
Abl.*wĺ̥kʷead > *wŕ̥kāt*wĺ̥kʷomos > *wŕ̥kaybʰyas
Loc.*wĺ̥kʷey/oy > *wŕ̥kay*wĺ̥kʷoysu > *wŕ̥kayšu
Instr.*wĺ̥kʷoh₁ > *wŕ̥kā*wĺ̥kʷōys > *wŕ̥kāyš

Feminine noun

"Cow" (e.g., Latin "vacca")
CaseSingularPlural
Nom. PIE *woḱéh₂ > PII *waćáH PIE *woḱéh₂es > PII *waćā́s
Gen.*woḱéh₂s > *waćáyaHs*woḱéh₂oHom > *waćáHnām
Dat.*woḱéh₂ey > *waćáyaHy*woḱéh₂mos > *waćáHbʰyas
Acc.*woḱā́m > *waćā́m*woḱéh₂m̥s > *waćā́s
Voc.*woḱéh₂ > *waćay*woḱéh₂es > *waćā́s
Abl.*woḱéh₂s > *waćáyaHs*woḱéh₂mos > *waćáHbʰyas
Loc.*woḱéh₂(i) > *waćáyaH(m)*woḱéh₂su > *waćáHsu
Instr.*woḱéh₂h₁ > *waćáyaH́*woḱéh₂mis > *waćáHbʰiš

Neuter noun

"Yoke"
CaseSingularPlural
Nom. PIE *yugóm > PII *yugám PIE *yugéh₂ > PII *yugáH
Gen.*yugósyo > *yugásya*yugóHom > *yugā́na(H)m
Dat.*yugóey > *yugā́y*yugómos > *yugáybʰyas
Acc.*yugóm > *yugám*yugéh₂ > *yugáH
Voc.*yugóm > *yugám*yugéh₂ > *yugáH
Abl.*yugéad > *yugā́t*yugómos > *yugáybʰyas
Loc.*yugéy/óy > *yugáy*yugóysu > *yugáyšu
Instr.*yugóh₁ > *yugā́*yugṓys > *yugā́yš

An example of adjectival declension

The morphology in adjectival declension is identical to the one in noun declension. The following example lacks the dual number.

"Immortal" (*n̥-mr̥t-ós)
CaseMasculine

(singular)

Feminine

(singular)

Neuter

(singular)

Nom. PIE *n̥mr̥tós > PII *amŕ̥tas PIE *n̥mr̥téh₂ > PII *amŕ̥taH PIE *n̥mr̥tóm > PII *amŕ̥tam
Gen.*n̥mr̥tósyo > *amŕ̥tasya*n̥mr̥téh₂s > *amŕ̥tayaHs*n̥mr̥tósyo > *amŕ̥tasya
Dat.*n̥mr̥tóey > *amŕ̥tāy*n̥mr̥téh₂ey > *amŕ̥tayaHi*n̥mr̥tóey > *amŕ̥tā́y
Acc.*n̥mr̥tóm > *amŕ̥tam*n̥mr̥tā́m > *amŕ̥tā́m*n̥mr̥tóm > *amŕ̥tam
Voc.*n̥mr̥té > *amŕ̥ta*n̥mr̥téh₂ > *amŕ̥tay*n̥mr̥tóm > *amŕ̥tam
Abl.*n̥mr̥téad > *amŕ̥tāt*n̥mr̥téh₂s > *amŕ̥tayaHs*n̥mr̥téad > *amŕ̥tā́t
Loc.*n̥mr̥téy/óy > *amŕ̥tay*n̥mr̥téh₂(i) > *amŕ̥tayaH(m)*n̥mr̥téy/óy > *amŕ̥tay
Instr.*n̥mr̥tóh₁ > *amŕ̥tā*n̥mr̥téh₂h₁ > *amŕ̥tayaH*n̥mr̥tóh₁ > *amŕ̥tā́
CaseMasculine

(plural)

Feminine

(plural)

Neuter

(plural)

Nom. PIE *n̥mr̥tóes > PII *amŕ̥ā(s) PIE *n̥mr̥téh₂es > PII *amŕ̥ā́s PIE *n̥mr̥téh₂ > PII *amŕ̥áH
Gen.*n̥mr̥tóHom > *amŕāna(H)m*n̥mr̥téh₂oHom > *amŕ̥áHnām*n̥mr̥tóHom > *amŕ̥ā́na(H)m
Dat.*n̥mr̥tómos > *amŕ̥aybʰyas*n̥mr̥téh₂mos > *amŕ̥áHbʰyas*n̥mr̥tómos > *amŕ̥áybʰyas
Acc.*n̥mr̥tóms > *amŕ̥āns*n̥mr̥téh₂m̥s > *amŕ̥ā́s*n̥mr̥téh₂ > *amŕ̥áH
Voc.*n̥mr̥tóes > *amŕ̥ā(s)*n̥mr̥téh₂es > *amŕ̥ā́s*n̥mr̥téh₂ > *amŕ̥áH
Abl.*n̥mr̥tómos > *amŕ̥aybʰyas*n̥mr̥téh₂mos > *amŕ̥áHbʰyas*n̥mr̥tómos > *amŕ̥áybʰyas
Loc.*n̥mr̥tóysu > *amŕ̥ayšu*n̥mr̥téh₂su > *amŕ̥áHsu*n̥mr̥tóysu > *amŕ̥áyšu
Instr.*n̥mr̥tṓys > *amŕ̥āyš*n̥mr̥téh₂mis > *amŕ̥áHbʰiš*n̥mr̥tṓys > *amŕ̥ā́yš

Numerals

NumeralPIEPII
One (1)*h₁óynos > *h₁óykos*Háykas
Two (2)*dwóh₁*dwáH
Three (3)*tréyes*tráyas
Four (4)*kʷetwóres*čatwā́ras
Five (5)*pénkʷe*pánča
Six (6)*swéḱs*šwáćš
Seven (7)*septḿ̥*saptá
Eight (8)*oḱtṓw*Haštā́
Nine (9)*h₁néwn̥*Hnáwa
Ten (10)*déḱm̥*dáća

See also

References

  1. Peter Bellwood; Immanuel Ness (10 November 2014). The Global Prehistory of Human Migration. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   978-1-118-97059-1.
  2. Hock, Hans Henrich (2015). "Proto-Indo-European verb-finality: Reconstruction, typology, validation". In Kulikov, Leonid; Lavidas, Nikolaos (eds.). Proto-Indo-European Syntax and its Development. John Benjamins.
  3. Burrow, pp. 78–79
  4. Ramat, Anna Giacalone (1998). The Indo-European Languages (illustrated ed.). London; New York: Routledge. p. 134. ISBN   0-415-06449-X.
  5. Cardona, George; Dhanesh Jain (2003). The Indo-Aryan Languages. London; New York: Routledge. p. 24. ISBN   0-7007-1130-9.
  6. Beekes (1988), p. 50
  7. Beekes, p. 55
  8. Burrow, pp. 74–75
  9. 1 2 3 Fortson, p. 182
  10. 1 2 Fortson, p. 181
  11. F. B. J. Kuiper. 1976. "Old East Iranian dialects." Indo-Iranian Journal18, p. 242.
  12. Burrow, p. 91
  13. Burrow, pp. 92–94
  14. Fortson, p. 183
  15. Beekes, pp. 85–86
  16. Lubotsky, p. 53
  17. Beekes, pp. 88–89
  18. "Indo-Iranian Languages." Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Ed. J.P. Mallory and D.Q. Adams. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997. pp. 305.
  19. 1 2 Fortson p. 205

Bibliography

Further reading

Contacts between Indo-Iranian and Uralic