Relative chronology of a series of phonetic changes in Old Indo-Aryan clusters based on data from the Kullui language

Anastasia Krylova (Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow; krylova_anastasi@bk.ru)

Journal of Language Relationship, № 23/3-4, 2025 - p.375-388

Abstract: In this study I attempt to reconstruct the relative chronology of phonetic changes affecting Old Indo-Aryan consonant clusters in the Kullui language (Himachali). Analysis confirms the preservation of archaic clusters like those with r and kṣ, the latter shifting to tʃʰ independently from the Southern Indo-Aryan languages. The relative sequence of changes including -mr- > -mb-, NT > ND, and (limited) ND > NN is examined. Bloch’s replication (anticipation) theory for r-metathesis is supported over Morgenstierne’s; the rule of assimilation of the second non-homorganic cluster is derived. Two potential chronological models for these shifts are proposed based on Kullui evidence.

Keywords: Kullui language, Indo-Aryan languages, relative chronology, metathesis

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