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LINGUISTICS: OLD AND MIDDLE INDO ARYAN LINGUISTICS BY HANEEFA MOMOH
1.1 OLD AND MIDDLE ARYAN LINGUISTICS
Old and Middle Indo-Aryan Linguistics refers to the study of the oldest attested forms of the
Indo-Aryan languages, which are part of the Indo-European language family. These
languages include Sanskrit, Pali, and other ancient and medieval languages.
Old Indo-Aryan refers to the oldest stage of these languages, which includes Vedic Sanskrit
and other early forms of Sanskrit. Middle Indo-Aryan refers to the later stage of these
languages, which includes Pali, Prakrit, and other related languages.
Vedic Sanskrit is the language of the oldest Hindu scriptures, the Vedas. It's also the
language of the oldest Indian epic, the Mahabharata. Meanwhile, Pali is the language of the
Buddhist scriptures, the Pali Canon.
1.2 INDO ARYAN LANGUAGE FAMILY
The Indo-Aryan languages are thought to have originated from a language known as
Proto-Indo-Iranian, which was spoken in the steppes of Central Asia. From there, a group of
people known as the Indo-Aryans migrated to South Asia, bringing their language with them.
They eventually settled in the Indus Valley, where they came into contact with the indigenous
people who spoke a language known as Proto-Dravidian.
The interaction between the Indo-Aryans and the Proto-Dravidians resulted in the
development of a new language, known as Old Indo-Aryan. Over time, Old Indo-Aryan
developed into several different languages, including Sanskrit, Pali, and other early forms of
these languages.
1.3 GRAMMAR OF OLD INDO ARYAN
One of the most distinctive features of Old Indo-Aryan is its complex system of verb
conjugation. Verbs are classified into ten different classes, and each class has its own set of
endings that indicate the person, number, and tense of the verb.
The Old Indo-Aryan verb system is actually quite similar to the verb system of modern
European languages like French and Spanish. So if you know any of those languages, you
already have a head start in understanding Old Indo-Aryan.
Another aspect of Old Indo-Aryan, the alphabet. Old Indo-Aryan was written using a script
known as Brahmi. Brahmi was a very influential script, and it eventually gave rise to other
LINGUISTICS: OLD AND MIDDLE INDO ARYAN LINGUISTICS BY HANEEFA MOMOH
1.1 OLD AND MIDDLE ARYAN LINGUISTICS
Old and Middle Indo-Aryan Linguistics refers to the study of the oldest attested forms of the
Indo-Aryan languages, which are part of the Indo-European language family. These
languages include Sanskrit, Pali, and other ancient and medieval languages.
Old Indo-Aryan refers to the oldest stage of these languages, which includes Vedic Sanskrit
and other early forms of Sanskrit. Middle Indo-Aryan refers to the later stage of these
languages, which includes Pali, Prakrit, and other related languages.
Vedic Sanskrit is the language of the oldest Hindu scriptures, the Vedas. It's also the
language of the oldest Indian epic, the Mahabharata. Meanwhile, Pali is the language of the
Buddhist scriptures, the Pali Canon.
1.2 INDO ARYAN LANGUAGE FAMILY
The Indo-Aryan languages are thought to have originated from a language known as
Proto-Indo-Iranian, which was spoken in the steppes of Central Asia. From there, a group of
people known as the Indo-Aryans migrated to South Asia, bringing their language with them.
They eventually settled in the Indus Valley, where they came into contact with the indigenous
people who spoke a language known as Proto-Dravidian.
The interaction between the Indo-Aryans and the Proto-Dravidians resulted in the
development of a new language, known as Old Indo-Aryan. Over time, Old Indo-Aryan
developed into several different languages, including Sanskrit, Pali, and other early forms of
these languages.
1.3 GRAMMAR OF OLD INDO ARYAN
One of the most distinctive features of Old Indo-Aryan is its complex system of verb
conjugation. Verbs are classified into ten different classes, and each class has its own set of
endings that indicate the person, number, and tense of the verb.
The Old Indo-Aryan verb system is actually quite similar to the verb system of modern
European languages like French and Spanish. So if you know any of those languages, you
already have a head start in understanding Old Indo-Aryan.
Another aspect of Old Indo-Aryan, the alphabet. Old Indo-Aryan was written using a script
known as Brahmi. Brahmi was a very influential script, and it eventually gave rise to other
