LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 24:9 September 2024
ISSN 1930-2940

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Revisiting the Phonemic Inventory of the Kashmiri Language:
A Comprehensive Analysis of Consonants, Vowels, Diphthongs, and Nasal Vowels

Tariq Ahmad Dar, M.A. Linguistics, Ph.D. Research Scholar and
Dr. Sajad Hussain Wani, Sr. Assistant Professor

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the phonemic inventory of the Kashmiri language, focusing on consonants, vowels (monophthongs), diphthongs, and nasal vowels. By analyzing both historical and contemporary data, the research focuses on the dynamic roles of vowels, consonants, diphthongs, and nasal vowels within Kashmiri phonology. The study confirms the consistency of consonant and monophthong inventories with previously documented findings, while offering new insights into the diphthongal and nasal vowel systems.

Key findings include the identification of a newly recognized diphthong [oi] and the classification of 14 nasal vowels as distinct phonemic categories with substantial variation across dialects: the central urban dialect exhibits the widest range, while central rural, southern, and northern dialects show a reduction in diphthongs, often replaced by monophthong variants. This discovery highlights the need for revising existing descriptions of Kashmiri diphthongs.

The examination of nasal vowels identifies fourteen distinct types, organized into front, central, and back categories, and highlighting their phonemic status contrasting with previous studies that had not fully recognized their phonemic relevance. The study’s findings challenge traditional views on the category of nasal vowels and contribute to a refined understanding of Kashmiri phonology. This research enriches the phonological analysis of Kashmiri, providing a detailed account of its diphthongs and nasal vowel systems and suggesting directions for further exploration in phonemic theory.

Keywords: Kashmiri Phonology, Phonemic Inventory, Diphthongs, Nasal Vowels, Dialectal Variation.

1. Introduction

The Kashmiri language, a prominent member of the Dardic subgroup within the Indo-Aryan Languages, has long been a focal point of linguistic research. Since the late 19th century, scholars have endeavoured to document and analyze its phonological and grammatical intricacies. The pioneering work of Ishwar Kaul in ‘Kashmira Shabdamitam’ (1879) marked the beginning of a detailed exploration of Kashmiri grammar. This foundational study was followed by Grierson’s ‘Standard Manual of the Kashmiri Language’ (1911), which offered an extensive description of Kashmiri phonetics, grammar, and vocabulary, significantly contributing to the field.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Tariq Ahmad Dar, M.A. Linguistics, Ph.D. Research Scholar
Department of Linguistics, University of Kashmir
Hazratbal, Srinagar190006, Kashmir, India
tariq.haider686@gmail.com

Dr. Sajad Hussain Wani, Sr. Assistant Professor
Department of Linguistics, University of Kashmir
Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006, Kashmir, India
wani.sajad@gmail.com
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