Some Aspects of Vowel Contraction in Prakrit

Summary

Focusing on Indo‑Aryan linguistics, this article analyses vowel contraction in Prakrit dialects. Vowel contraction occurs when adjacent vowels merge into a single sound, affecting phonology and morphology. Drawing on examples from Pali, Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri texts, the author categorises contractions such as a+i, a+u and i+u and examines the conditions under which they occur. He notes dialectal differences: Maharashtri often preserves diphthongs that Pali contracts. The study compares Prakrit patterns with Sanskrit and later Indo‑Aryan languages, tracing continuity and divergence. It shows how contractions influence verb formation and compound words and argues that recognising these patterns is crucial for accurate philological work and for reconstructing historical sound changes.