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The Proto-Vedic Continuity Theory of Bharatiya (Indian) Languages
S. Kalyanaraman and Mayuresh Kelkar (October 2005)
Abstract
This monograph proposes an alternative Proto-Vedic Continuity Theory of BharatiyaLanguages, to study evolution of languages in Bharatam, and replaces the invasionistmodel of Indo-European Linguistics (IEL). A paradigm shift in language studies of Bharat (India) is suggested, starting with the identification of bharatam janam, a phraseused by Vis’vamitra Gathina in the Rigveda (vis’vamitrasya raks.ati brahmedambharatam janam ‘this mantra of Vis’vamitra will protect the nation of Bharata people’
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RV 3.53.12). This calls for a study of mleccha, vra_tya, jaati in ancient bharatam, fromPaleolithic times, exemplified by Nahali > Nagari. [Mleccha (Meluhha) is the language of dvi_pava_sinah, early metal workers and artisans (karma_ra, kamar), the speakers livingalong coastlines of the Indian Ocean Rim and in doabs -- overlapping river-basinsbetween two rivers -- who created the maritime-riverine civilizations.]Many conclusions can be derived from a study of bharatiya savants who have contributedto language studies. The corpus of grammars and texts available in all parts of Bharatamis just stunning, as our pitr.-s have delved deep into the subject of bhasha. We have to re-discover their contributions and use the bharatiya research method (a triad composed of s'ruti-tantrayukti-anubhuti, which should replace the constrictive Hegelian dialectic of thesis-antithesis-synthesis) to progress the studies further to unravel the linguistic area of circa 3000 BCE. A linguistic area is defined as an area where many languages/dialectsinteract and absorb one another's features as their own. In such a setting, the categoriessuch as non-agglutinative, agglutinative become meaningless. There is intense interactionamong the so-called munda, dravidian and indo-aryan families of languages. Instead of invasionist models proposed by IEL, we should expound on a Proto-Vedic ContinuityTheory. The Veda arrives on the scene with such profundity of thought, that at least ascore centuries should have been involved in a Proto-Vedic (mleccha + samskr.tam)evolving into Vedic and later Samskr.tam, differentiating further as Prakrits (Dravidian,Munda, Apabhrams’a). Languages do change but they also conserve. IEL is an ideologyand it is unfalsifiable, hence not science.The IEL method of drawing upon genetic theories is also unacceptable because languagesdo not follow biological change laws. Languages evolve and semantic expansion occursdue to interchanges in a social contract. Sangam literature (cf. Patir-r-uppattu) refers tocera vel.ir kings descent from 49 generations from Dwaraka (Tuvarai mentioned inPatirruppattu, cf. Bibliography), may be after its submergence mentioned in Mahabharatamausala parvan. There was an excellent article by Prof. KV Sharma on the subject citingSangam literary sources in Adyar Bulletin. One view is that Vedic civilization had itsmaritime roots in Tamil-Southeast Asian hindumahasagar rim before settling on sarasvati- sindhu doab basin. The monograph advocates a radical departure from the methods of IEL. What is suggested is a continuation of the earlier language studies by bharatiyasavants, so as to delineate the Proto-Vedic Continuity and, to contribute to a better
2understanding of the I in the IE. Such an exercise is likely to provide answers to theinteractions between Sarasvati civilization and the European civilizations and thecorresponding interactions among Bharatiya and European languages taking into accountthe geological fact that Bharat was not subjected to glaciation, unlike most parts of Europe (which renders the problem of European languages and expansion of farming andrelocations of people, a complex exercise differentiating pre-glaciation and post-glaciation periods).(Adams, John, and Marcelle Otte, 1999).
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3The Proto-Vedic Continuity Theory of Bharatiya (Indian) LanguagesS. Kalyanaraman and Mayuresh Kelkar(October 2005, Yugabda 5106, Deepavali)Summary: To avoid the pitfalls of invasionist hypotheses to explain language changes, aProto-Vedic Continuity Theory for Bharatiya languages is postulated. This will be testedon the Indo- in the Indo-European,that is Bharatiya (Indian) languages, which are clubbedin the hyphenated compound, ‘Indo-European’ languages.Bharatam janam is the phrase used by vis'vamitra gathina in the Rigveda. The objectiveof this monograph is to study the languages of bharatam janam in a historical and culturalperspective. The Rig Veda is such a profound document that many centuries of evolutionof language should have occurred before the Vedic mantra-s were perceived (dras.t.a). Itis, therefore, suggested that there was a Proto-Vedic language which needs to beunraveled through language studies.The authors submit that it should be possible to delineate the languages/dialects spokenby bharatam janam from Proto-Vedic times. This will be attempted by denying theusefulness of methods used by Indo-European Linguistics (IEL) that are unfalsifiable,ideologically driven conjectures. . Was Proto Indo European ever spoken? Who knows?This is an unfalsifiable statement in IEL. Many unfalsifiable statements found amongproponents and supporters of IEL are presented as quotable quotes in this monograph. Anarray of genetic-language relationship studies from mostly genetic journals to highlightthe slippery nature of the attempts being made to match a scientific, genetic disciplinewith unfalsifiable categorizations provided by IEL studies. Many IEL assumptions aretreated as “evidence” in these articles appearing in “scientific” journals.The monograph is organized in two parts and the following sections, highlighting thelimitations of IEL and the imperative of study of evolution of Bharatiya languages nowspoken by more than one billion people living in the Indian subcontinent.Part 1: Limitations of Indo-European Linguistics1.
'Love' of Sanskrit as a camouflage for evangelism2.
Unfalsifiable Teach Yourself PIE3.
Indeterminate laryngeals4.
Aryan race ideology5.
Eurocentrism6.
A fading discipline hangs on to slippery genesPart 2: Bharatiya Language Studies7.
Studies needed to delineate the Indo- in Indo-European8.
Study of Prakrits from Paleolithic times
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