Re: [indic] Halant - can it be called a "Linguistic Zero" (Panini)?

From: N. Ganesan (naa.ganesan@gmail.com)
Date: Wed Apr 28 2010 - 12:37:45 CDT

  • Next message: mpsuzuki@hiroshima-u.ac.jp: "Re: [indic] Halant - can it be called a "Linguistic Zero" (Panini)?"

    On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 12:31 PM, JAGANADH G <jaganadhg@gmail.com> wrote:

    >
    >
    > On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 10:50 PM, N. Ganesan <naa.ganesan@gmail.com>wrote:
    >
    >> A question for linguists. In Indian scripts,
    >> there is a sign called halanta
    >> which is used to delete an
    >> inherent vowel /a/ in an Indic syllable.
    >>
    >> For example, in any Indic script,
    >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virama
    >>
    >> A syllable with /a/ + Halant = A "pure" consonant (with /a/ "killed")
    >> i.e.,
    >> [ka] + Halant = [k]
    >>
    > It is wrong.
    >
    > [ka] - [a] = [k] not [ka] + [Halant] = [k]
    >
    > like wise
    >
    > [ka] - [a] + [i] = [ki]
    >
    >

    yes. [halant] = - [a].

    My question is: the Zeroing element (call it halant or -/a/)
    a linguistic zero?

    N. Ganesan

    >
    >
    >> Usually, in early Brahmi, the halant "vowel-killer" sign is like a
    >> macron
    >> above any consonant syllable. In Tamil, halant is a dot (bindu) above
    >> of on the side a syllable, which is same as bindu for zero
    >> in Khmer inscriptions.
    >>
    >> My question: Can we call Indic Halanta (the "killer" of vowel,/a/)
    >> a form/kind of "Linguistic Zero" of PaaNini?
    >>
    >> What is ment by "Linguistic Zero"?
    >
    >
    >
    > --
    > **********************************
    > JAGANADH G
    > http://jaganadhg.freeflux.net/blog
    >
    >

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