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International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation (IJLLT)

Morphophonemic Variations in the Saraiki Language

Article · May 2019

DOI: 10.32996/ijllt.2019.2.3.6

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 International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation (IJLLT)
ISSN: 2617-0299
www.ijllt.org

Morphophonemic Variations in the Saraiki Language

Firdos Atta1* & Sidra Rasheed2
1
Shanghai international studies university, China
2
University of Loralai Balochistan, Pakistan
Corresponding Author: Firdos Atta, E-mail: firdosmalghani@gmail.com

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Received: April 06, 2019 The current study explains the morphophonemic variation in Saraiki language.
Accepted: April 20, 2019 The complete phenomenon is described through the analysis of Saraiki
Published: May 31, 2019 phonology and morphology. The data has been collected from the daily speech
Volume: 2 of Saraiki speakers and from the comparative dictionary of Indo-Aryan
Issue: 3 languages and is analysed through morpheme-based theory. The study explains
DOI: 10.32996/ijllt.2019.2.3.6 how irregularity occurs in the formation of Saraiki words and exposes its
KEYWORDS morphophonemic structure as well. The study describes how this
morphophonemic process works differently with different type of roots. The
Saraiki, Morphophonemic, behaviour of same suffix varies with the variation of a root. The structure of
suffix, irregularity, suffix changes in different conditions when root is coda less, having coda, roots
morphology, verbs ending with /s/ and having /ɦ/ coda. The current study also elaborates the
process of changing noun into verb and vice versa.

1. INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL

BACKGROUND OF THE SARAIKI Maldives Islands. In the year of 1991, the Indo-Aryan
LANGUAGE speakers were around 875 million. They constitute a
branch of Indo-Iranian which itself is the branch of
According to Bickerton (1995), all languages of the Indo-European language family. However, it is
world evolved from a single language “proto- important to know that how these languages
language” and with the passage of time, these developed with the passage of time but it is very hard
languages separated from their parentage. Languages to be certain about historical changes in a language.
of the world are classified into various families of Masica (1993) stated that the speakers of Indo-Aryan
which Indo-European is the largest. The Indo- and Indo-Iranian split from each other around 2000
European language family has different branches, the B.C. He claims that Indo-Aryan and Indo-Iranian
main branches of the family are Indian or proper languages have a close and genetic relationship.
Aryan, Indo-Iranian, Greek, Italic, Celtic, Albanian,
Tocharian, Balto-Slavonic, and Germanic, etc, Linguistically the development of Indo-Aryan
(Wagha, 1990). According to Jain and Cardona languages is divided into three stages Old, Middle
(2007), the language families of sub-continent are and New Indo-Aryan (Masica, 1993) which are often
Indo-Aryan, Indo-Iranian, Dravidian, Munda, and abbreviated as OIA and NIA. A large variety of
Tibeto-Burman. Berton (1999) claims that in sub- languages spoken today in the sub-continent is
continent the speakers of Indo-Aryan languages are known as new Indo-Aryan languages. The most
about 78.7% of the whole population. According to spoken language of NIA family is Hindustani that is
Jain and Cardona (2007), other language families considered the fourth most spoken language in the
such as Iranian in the west, Tibeto-Burman in the east world (Masica, 1993). Since this study focuses the
and north and Dravidian in the west encircle the morphophonemic analysis of Saraiki language,
Indo-Aryan region. Saraiki is one if the Indo-Aryan therefore, how Saraiki is developed in the Indo-
language spoken in India and Pakistan. Aryan family is given in the next section.

There are different linguists who do not consider 1.1 Development of the Saraiki language
Indian or Indo-Aryan directly in the family of the Saraiki has become the language of interest for
Indo-European languages. According to Masica linguists for some decades but it was hard to find out
(1993), Indo-Aryan language family is sub-branch of the exact origin of Saraiki. In order to locate Saraiki
thee Indo-European family a widely spoken language language among different language families of the
in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and world, we have to be concerned to the Indo-Aryan
language family. This language is largely spoken in

42
 IJLLT 2(3):42-53

southern Punjab and some other areas of Pakistan. It b. The Saraiki consonant system
is spoken in some areas of India also. The status of Dental
Glott
Saraiki as the main language is very controversial Labial and Retroflex Palatal Velar
al
alveolar
because of its vocabulary and grammar, which c k
resembles Sindhi and Punjabi both (Wagha, 1990). p b
t̪ d̪ ʈ ɖ ɟ ɡ
Plosive ph
t̪ h d̪ɦ ʈh ɖɦ ch kh
bɦ
According to Wagha (1990), Saraiki is always ɟɦ ɡɦ
Implosive ɓ ɗ ʄ ɠ
confused with the dialects of Punjabi language, ŋ
spoken largely in Punjab and usually found to be m n ɲ
ɳ
Nasal m n ɲ
quite a different language and seems to be closer to ɦ ɦ ɳɦ ɦ
Sindhi. Grierson (1919) claims that Saraiki is a
dialect of Vicholi ‘which is the language of the
ɾ ɽ
central part of Sindh. According to him, for Sindhi Tap or flap
ɾɦ ɽɦ
speakers, it is the purest form of Sindhi language. He
finds Saraiki closer to the Lahnda language or Fricative f s z ʃ
x
ɦ
western Punjabi. However, Haq (1972) shows Saraiki ɣ
ʋ J
and Punjabi belonging to different groups of Indo Approximant ʋ
L
Aryan languages. Apart from all these Atta (in prep) ɦ lɦ
declared Saraiki as a separate language. According to
her on the basis of some mutual intelligibility, a As the consonant chart shows, Saraiki presents a six-
language cannot be declared as dialect or language, way laryngeal contrast for the stop series: plain
on contrary to, there are so many languages which voiceless, plain voiced, aspirated voiceless breathy
are mutually unintelligible but they are considered as voiced and implosive-explosive. Almost all sonorants
the dialect of same language as in case of Chinese also show a plain-breathy contrast.
dialects.
1.2. Research objectives
1.1.1 Saraiki phonology The main objectives of the study are listed below;
The language has a rich phonemic inventory with
implosives and a large number of breathy voiced
consonants. The number of consonants are 49 and 16 a. To find the reasons behind asymmetry in the
vowels including nasal vowels Atta (in prep). The morphophonemic structure of Saraiki.
Saraiki phonemic inventory is given:
b. The current study will uncover how
a. Saraiki vowel inventory morphophonemic structure works in Saraiki word-
formation.
iː i͂ ː uː u͂ː
ɪ ɪ̃ ʊ
C. The study will also list the nature, behavior and
ʊ̃ ʊ̃ role of affixes in word-formation in Saraiki
e o 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
The interface of Morphology and phonology explains
ə how morphemes and phonemes of a language interact
to form new morphophonemic processes. It focuses
on the changes of sounds that occur when these
ʌ ʌ̃ sounds are combined to form words. Jusiah and
æ æ̃
Udoudom (2012) mention in their study that the term
ɑ ɑ̃ “morphophonemic” is generally used to describe a
linguistic statement that can be made of the phonemic
structure of morphemes and their effect on the
grammatical content of the languages”. Simply it can
be said that morphophonemic is the classification and
analysis of phonological features which effects the
articulation of morphemes. According to Hyslop
(2014), phonology is the study of sounds and
morphology is the study of morphemes. When these
both are combined, it becomes morphophonology,
which studies how sounds change.

43
Morphophonemic Variations in the Saraiki Language

The morphophonemic contrast is different in various (2016) represented the features of Sindhi nouns with
languages of the world. Hyslop (2014) studied the their gender, number, and case.
morphophonemic contrast in Kurtöp, the language
that is spoken in Bhutan and belongs to the Tibeto- Khubchandani (1968) describes that there are
Burman language family. Shafer (1954) was the first different classes of Sindhi nouns and the language is
person who used the term ‘East Bodish’ for Kurtöp. different for its morpho-syntactic structure. Shah and
Hyslop (2014) claims that Kurtöp has seven vowels Mandan (2016) stated that Sindhi has eight classes of
and there are thirty consonants in their phonemic word that are, noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb,
inventory. The stem in Kurtöp demonstrates the postposition, conjunction, and interjection. According
distinction incomprehension of -k that occurs at the to the authors, in Sindhi, a noun always ends with a
final position of stem and the stem-final consonant vowel whether it is singular or plural. The existence
that are voiced only. In his study of Kurtöp language, of vowel at the end of noun helps to determine its
the author describes that “Verb stems with final –k number and gender. The authors further explain the
loses their coda consonant word finally”. According rules of noun change from singular to plural.
to the researcher, variation occurs when suffixes -ta According to them a masculine noun that ends with
and –Shang are added in the presence of final -k and /u/, changes its final /u/ with/ə/ when it becomes
the suffixes male or –wala are used when the final /k/ plural. For example, /ʊthʊ/ (camel) changed into
is absent. At the final position of stem usually –k is /ʊthə/ (camels), /gʊlʊ/ (flower) changed into /gʊlə/
replaced by a long vowel. The author explains that (flowers) and /nəkʊ/ (nose) changed into /nəkə/
when /k/ is at the final position of stem it is lost (noses). In all these examples final /u/ changed into
because of the lengthening of the preceding vowel. It /ə/ to make a plural. Apart from this, in Sindhi
is also lost when suffixes like –wala are added. masculine nouns ending with a diphthong /oʊ/, the
According to Lowes (2006), when stem-final /k/is final diphthong is often substituted with a long vowel
lost, and then it changes into the long vowel. /a/ to make a plural. For example, /ɓiloʊ/ (cat)
According to Hyslop (2014) in the verbal changed into /ɓila/ (cats) and /keloʊ/ into /kela/.
morphology of Kurtöp, there exists a small number of According to the authors, in order to pluralize the
morphophonemic fluctuation or variation. He gave feminine nouns in Sindhi short vowel /i/ is changed
the examples of suffixes like perfective –Shang and into /jũ:/, as in the example /ra:ti/ (night) to /ra:tijũ:/.
future/intentional –male, which do not change their Feminine nouns which end with a short vowel /ə/
form. So the writer discusses the allomorphy of the change their final vowel into / ũ:/ to pluralize it, as
suffix-Pala which is perfective suffix in Kurtöp and /za:l/ (wife) changed into /za:lũ:/ (Wives). In Sindhi,
the imperative suffix –le. In Kurtöp –Pala usually change occurs in gender according to the following
refers to the first person rather than the second or rules:
third. According to the author, when this suffix is
followed by –k and –ng it has another form –wala. By changing the /u/ vowel into /i/ such as /ɓəkəru/ (a
He gave the examples of these suffixes, as there is a
goat) changed into /ɓəkəri/ (she-goat). Another rule is
stem “kuk” (gather) when the suffix “Pala” is added
the change of /u/ into /ɳɟ/, for example /səra:fu/
in the stem, final –k disappears and it becomes “ku-
(goldsmith) changed into /səra:fɳɟ/ (she goldsmith) to
wala”. In the example, stem-final is preceding by –k
form a feminine. Masculine noun ending with /ou/
so “wala” is used instead of “Pala”. This form of the changed into /i: / when it formed its feminine for
suffix is also used when –ng is in the final position of
instance, /ɓiloʊ/ (a cat) changed into /ɓili: / (she-cat)
the stem as in the example, “thong” (drink) and by
and /kutoʊ/ (a dog) changed into /Kuti: / (a bitch).
adding a suffix, it becomes “thong-wala”. According
Another variation in this process is the change of /u/
to the author, except these stem finals, the suffix
into /ja:ɳi:/ for example Sindhi masculine /fəki:ru/
“Pala” is used.
(beggar) changed into /fəki:r ja:ɳi/ (woman beggar).
Sometimes /i: / changed into /ɳɟ/ to form feminine
Another study by Shah and Mandan (2016) explores such as in the word /dhouɓi/ (washerman) that
the morphophonemic nature of Sindhi language. The changed into /dhouɓɳɟ/ (a washerwoman). According
authors stated that Sindhi is a prominent language of to authors, these variations usually occur in the
Indo-Aryan family because of its unique features. process of changing masculine to feminine and vice
The morphological, phonological and syntactic versa.
aspect is its main feature that makes it unique and
different from other languages. According to the
Apart from Sindhi, language Urdu morphology is
authors, the morphemes of Sindhi language are
also a very complex phenomenon. It is because of the
changed by the phoneme, which changes the
fact that many regional languages have made a deep
syntactic properties of a word. Shah and Mandan
44
 IJLLT 2(3):42-53

impact on its formation and development (Qureshi, 3.1. Data presentation

Anwar, & Awan, 2012). In Urdu, words like ‘Larka’ Like other languages of the world, Pakistani
(boy) changes into Larkon (boys), Kursi (chair) to languages mostly used suffixes and prefix in
Kursion (chairs), or Kamra (room) into Kamron phonomorpho interface. Infix never participates in
(rooms), is the case of forming plurals from the formation and categorization of words in Saraiki. The
singular. Words as Kitab (book) into Kitab parhna collected data of the concerned language shows that
(book reading) and Khat (letter) into khat likhna are a suffixes are mostly used to change the form of words.
case in which a verb and a noun are playing the role Through the collected set of data, it is clear that
of its object can form a word. variation is created in verbs mostly through suffixes.
Prefixes mostly added to make a negative form of the
The literature of different languages shows that the word or used for negation in Saraiki but suffixes help
morphophonemic contrast is different in different to change the category of the word (from a verb into
languages of the world. This study explores the a noun or vice versa).
morphophonemic contrast and morphology-
phonology interface in Saraiki language. As it is discussed above the use of suffixes is more
common than the prefixes in world languages,
Saraiki is one of them. Prefixes are only used for
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
negation in Saraiki. Such as the prefix /uɳ/ is used for
The data for this research is taken from both primary
and secondary sources. The primary data is collected negation in Saraiki, for example, there is a word
randomly from the native speakers from their daily /pᴧɽh/ (read) that is changed into /uɳpᴧɽh/ (illiterate).
Apart from the negation, there is also a change of
conversation. All the authors are the native speakers
category from the verb to adjective. Another example
of Saraiki language however, they are also fluent in
of this type is /d̪hot̪ а/ into /uɳd̪hot̪ а/. In the process of
Urdu ( a national language of Pakistan) and English.
suffixation, there exist some variations in Saraiki. In
Different words under same grammatical category
have had different morphophonemic interface English, a morpheme /–ed/ is used for past but in
therefore, such words are collected and analysed by Saraiki there is no fixed morpheme to change the
present into past rather some other changes also
using word-based approach by Booij (2010).
noticed in the data below. Like other languages, in
Saraiki past and future morphemes are derived from
Since, for the linguistic analysis of complex words present form. As in English, “come, will come and
there exists two main approaches, morpheme-based came”. The more interesting thing about the language
approach and word-based approach (Booij, 2010a). under discussion is that only one morpheme indicates
According to Booij (2010), morpheme-based present and imperative state, no need to add extra
approach, helps to understand the “syntactical order words or morpheme as in English (mostly please or
of morphemes” in word. In morpheme-based order is added in imperative context) but accent/
approach, the starting point of morphological analysis pitch distinguishes the situation. Below suffix is used
is morpheme. On the other hand, in the word-based to differentiate the present and present continuous
approach the starting point of morphological analysis tense of verb.
is word rather than morpheme. According to (Booij,
2010b) through word-based perspective we analyze
words by comparing the sets of these words, for Table 1. Present Continuous/Imperfect
example, “sad” and “sadness”. According to the Roots/ Present
Glosses Suffix
previous perspective, in “sadness” “sad” is an present Continuous
adjectival morpheme and “ness” is nominalizing khɑ: Eat -nd̪ɑ khɑnd̪ɑ
suffix to show property. As an alternative, word- pi: Drink -nd̪ɑ pi:nd̪ɑ
based approach helps to conclude the difference ɖe Give -nd̪ɑ ɖend̪ɑ
based on meaning which are related systematically to cɑ: Carry -nd̪ɑ cænd̪ɑ
each other. However, this is still an ambiguity pɑ: Put -nd̪ɑ pænd̪ɑ
whether morpheme is the starting point of analysis or sʌm Sleep -nd̪a sʌmd̪a
it is a word that is further divided into morphemes? piɦ Grind -nd̪a Piɦnd̪a
These two approaches are very helpful to understand
the present data. Though morpheme-based approach
is closely related to the current study but data is also Since present and present continuous tense is
explained under word-based approach where needed. distinguished because of the suffix ‘nd̪ɑ’ as
accessible in the table above. In the surface form of
present continuous verbs ‘n’ is omitted but leaving
the nasal feature on preceding vowel i.e., pĩd̪ɑ. In the

45
Morphophonemic Variations in the Saraiki Language

next table, the second category from present to past is in the sentence with future form. We will discuss this
presented by adding another inflection. in the next section.

Table 2. Present to Past Similarly, apart from changing the state of verbs and
Past morphemes (from present to past or future), there are
Roots/present Glosses Suffix some other morphemes which strappingly built
Tense
relations with phonemes. This morpho-phonemic
kɦɑ: Eat - t̪ e kɦɑ:d̪e
relation is observed in almost all languages. As in
pi:ɦ Grind - t̪ e pi:t̪ ɦe English, there is a fixed morpheme to change the
present verb into past similarly there are some other
ɖe Give - t̪ e ɖit̪ t̪ e morphemes used to make the plural. In case of
Saraiki, variation in morphemes is experiential to
cɑ: Carry - t̪ e cɑ:t̪ e change singular into the plural. Saraiki speakers use
different morphemes to pluralize feminine and
mɑ:r Hit - t̪ e mɑ:rje masculine nouns. The example of Saraiki nouns are
presented in the table below:
Past tense suffix for Saraiki verbs are /t̪ e/ as specified
above but apart from adding a suffix, there are some Table 5. Masculine Singular to Plural
other changes. The above data shows that roots Singular/masculine Glosses Plural
having /ɦ/ coda and without /ɦ/ are treated differently ɗɑɗɑ Grandfather ɗɑɗe
while having past inflection. In order to show the past Paternal
cɑcɑ cɑce
continuous state of verbs, same inflection is used by uncle
adding some extra morphemes as shown beneath: Maternal
mɑ̃mɑ̃ mɑ̃mẽ
uncle
Table 3. Past Continuous/Imperfect gɦoɽɑ: Horse gɦoɽe
Roots/ Past kut̪ ɑ Dog kut̪ e
Glosses Suffix
present Continuous
kɦɑ Eat -nd̪e kɦɑ:nd̪e Saraiki has fixed morpheme/-e/ for masculine plurals
pi: Drink -nd̪e pi:nd̪e but vary in case of feminine gender. In the next table,
ɖe Give -nd̪e ɖend̪e plural morpheme of the feminine is given with
cɑ Carry -nd̪e cænd̪e examples. These examples are from central dialect, in
different dialects, these nouns are pronounced
pɑ Put -nd̪e pænd̪e differently.

Similarly, verbs for future have another suffix. In this Table 6. Feminine Singular to Plural Nouns
case, Saraiki is different from other languages, as Singular/feminine Glosses Plural
English has extra morpheme ‘will’ with the present ɗɑɗi Grandmother ɗɑɗiɑ̃
form of a verb but here in this language, the only cɑci Paternal aunt cɑciɑ̃
suffix is enough to distinguish from present to future. Maternal
The data present to future is as in the coming table: mɑ̃mi mɑ̃mĩɑ̃
aunt
ɦ
g oɽi Mare gɦoɽiɑ̃
Table 4. Future Tense kut̪ i Bitch kut̪ iɑ̃
Roots/present Glosses Suffix Future cɦʊir Girl cɦori᷈
kɦɑ: Eat -si kɦɑ:si ɦ
d̪ ɪ Daughter d̪ɦɪri᷈
pi: Drink -si pi:si
ɖe Give -si ɖesi However, interesting is that some nouns do not have
cɑ: Carry -si Cæsi plural forms at all rather context determines their
pɑ: Put -si Pæsi number. In the next table, some words with having no
plural suffix or zero suffixes are as given:
Since the change of present to the future form of verb
looks very smooth as no change except adding suffix
is observed in the above data. In order to express the
continuity of future some extra morphemes are added

46
 IJLLT 2(3):42-53

Table 7. Noun with Zero Suffixation 3.2.2. Variation because of /ɦ/.

Singular/masculine Glosses Plural Now move towards another structure of the word,
cɦoᴧr Boy cɦoᴧr which is CVC. The data shows some distinction with
bɦirɑ Brother bɦirɑ the last C in CVC. If the coda has ‘ɦ’, it looks very
td̪ərzi Tailor d̪ərzi smooth when suffix for present continuous added.
ʃe:r Lion ʃe:r For example, [koɦ+nd̪ɑ] is /kõɦnd̪ɑ/, no variation
occurs except regressive spreading of nasal feature.
The above-discussed variations in morpho-phonemic Contrary to this, coda with other than ‘ɦ’ is treated in
relation are analyzed in the next section. The purpose a different way when suffix is attached. As for
of categorization of data is to make it understandable instance, [mar+nd̪ɑ] is /marend̪ɑ/ */marnd̪ɑ/.
to the readers. Therefore, the insertion of consonant in the second
example and not in the former required some reasons
3.2 Analysis and discussion to make clear. Throughout the Saraiki language
Variation in different categories of data compels to grammar, we did not find cluster of three consonants,
analyze it in different sections. It is because the maximally two consonant clusters occurred in a word
general categorization of data cannot put under a at any position. It might be, for Saraiki speakers,
single rule. Every general category has some difficult to release three consonants without any
derivations which set different rules, therefore, vowel. Therefore, in such cases insertion is noted.
analyzed step by step. As different sections of data Since insertion occurred to satisfy a phonotactic
have discussed above, so the analysis starts with a constraint of not having three consonants together but
general category. Let us start from the root/ present not in case of words with ‘ɦ’ coda, though, ‘ɦ’ is also
form to present continuous. There are two type of a consonant. The inserted vowel also has a
roots CV and CVC, which are divided further into morphological role in the word mentioned above.
two categories, coda with /ɦ/ and coda with other Vowel /e/ is an agentive to make the verb active and
consonants. The open syllable of the data is also passive. For example, /marend̪a/ is active verb in
treated suffix differently. Saraiki and changed into passive /marind̪a/ with the
variation of a vowel. Some other examples of this
3.2.1 The addition of Suffix /-nd̪a/ type are as under;
The coda-less roots which also indicate present state
of the condition are simply changed into present Table 8. Vowel Inflection
continuous by adding suffix /-nd̪a/. No underlying Active Glosses Passive
variation found in these examples. This is very satend̪a Throwing satind̪a
simple analysis at morphophonemic level but at khavend̪a Feeding khavind̪a
surface level, these words go through phonetic
cavend̪a Lifting cavind̪a
variation. The surface representation of all these
ɖasend̪a Telling ɖasind̪a
verbs has no nasal consonant but having nasality on
the preceding vowel. One of the reasons behind the
difference of underlying and surface representation is In above examples, place of articulation of ‘ɦ’ comes
ease of articulation. The suffix /-nd̪a/ has a cluster of in to play. As mentioned before, three consonants at
two coronal/anterior consonants which may have three different places of articulation without vowel
some difficulties in mutual production. So the one are difficult to produce for Saraiki speakers but this is
between these two is deleted on the surface form but not true in case of ‘ɦ’. It is well thought-out that ‘ɦ’
retaining its main/prominent evidence. Since nasal has no proper place of articulation, which may have
coronal is the easy target to change or delete clash or create hurdle in production with other
therefore it is deleted and left nasality on preceding consonants. Therefore, the speakers feel cluster of
vowel. Another disparity is noted in a vowel, two two consonants instead of three that does not demand
words in table 1 show vowel difference in a first and insertion.
third column while others have it. The change of low
back vowel into the low front vowel is actually 3.2.3 Past suffixes /-t̪ e/ with open syllable.
following the place of preceding consonant. The The next set of data having the same roots and some
evidence for this is the first word of the same table in others uses for past tense with a different suffix. This
which vowel change did not occur. is not strange in Saraiki as we find in different
languages of the world that many affixes are used to
change the form of a verb from present to past and
past to future and so on. In Saraiki, past tense verbs
have some variations with different onsets, codas,
and coda-less roots. Therefore, these verbs may

47
Morphophonemic Variations in the Saraiki Language

divide into their sub-sections in order to get the better noted in Saraiki language. Apart from all these
overview. In the first type of data, let us take open processes, there are some other phonological
syllables with simple onsets as above given examples processes observed in processes are gemination and
indicate in table 2. Since it is already discussed about palatalization as discussed above. Gemination occurs
the past suffix /-t̪ e/ but this is not so simple and to maintain the prosodic structure. However, Saraiki
smooth to understand as in present continuous tense. is a trochaic language so it always prefers to stress on
left syllable of the word. So in order to fill the
Table 9. Present to Past requirements of stress on penultimate syllable
Past gemination occurs in Saraiki. In the examples given
Root Glosses Suffix
tense above when a suffix/ /–t̪ e/ added in the root the
mar- Hit -t̪ e marje structure of syllable is something like [mil.e]
kʌr- Do -t̪ e kit̪ e *[mi.le], needs margins for production. The
gemination (to make the consonant long for an
sᴧm- Sleep -t̪ e sut̪ t̪ e
audibly longer period) of intervocalic consonant fill
mil- Meet -t̪ e Millje
the need of syllable structure ([mil.lje]). Here another
process is noted in the surface form of such words
In Saraiki there are two suffixes /–t̪ e/ is used to that is ‘palatalization’ (a process in which consonants
change the imperative verb into past, because in most get secondary palatal articulation or change their
of the collected data we find addition of /–t̪ e/ while place of articulation under the influence of palatal
making it past tense. However, in the above examples phoneme). The surface representation of this word is
palatalization is also involved to change the category [millje]. The occurrence of palatalization only
of verb. This palatal sound is not a suffix in Saraiki observed in the presence of ‘front vowels’ in world
rather it is added to the verb under the rule of languages. As in these words, consonants are realized
compensatory lengthening. This process generally in the context of front vowels ‘i, e’ consequently,
occurs when the upcoming content of a nucleus or palatalized.
moraic coda is deleted (Hayes, 1989). In this process
the original feature accompanying with mora are
The behavior of ‘ɦ’ in Saraiki is very interesting and
replaced by those of a neighboring segment.
deserves more discussion. Here in the past state of
According to this rule, sometimes vowel lengthening,
the sentence, words with ‘ɦ’ coda have a different
gemination or secondary articulation occurs to
strategy to adapt suffix. Let us take turn towards table
compensate the deletion. The next set of data for past
having past suffix, [koɦ+t̪ e] is /kot̪ ɦe/ */koht̪ e/ ( in
tense is yet again the open syllable but with different
some dialects /kot̪ hje/ ). This process is the same as
onsets i.e., aspirated/breathy voice. These kinds of
explained in first part of data i.e. /t̪ e/ is past suffix
examples have a different rule with suffixation. As
and in this set of data /t̪ / become aspirated because of
for example, [kɦa+t̪ e] is /kɦad̪e/ /*kɦat̪ e/ and [dɦo+t̪ e]
the movement of /ɦ/. Therefore, /ɦ/ has left its place
is /dɦot̪ e/, */dɦod̪e/. The examples below followed the
and is produced as an aspirate when past suffix /t̪ e/ is
same rule
used in Saraiki. Before talking about the final
aspirated consonant which emerges as a result
Table 10. Past Suffix /-t̪ e/ variation in word formation, look at another set of
Past data which has its own peculiarities.
Root Glosses Suffix
tense
Kha- Eat -t̪ e khad̪e Another category of past tense is limited to those
dho- Wash -t̪ e dhot̪ e words having only /s/ coda. In the table below there
khil- Laugh -t̪ e khillje are many words like this and have a different rule for
ghat- Decrease -t̪ e ghattje combination of root and suffix.
phir- Turn -t̪ e phirrje
Table 11. Having /s/ Coda
Yet one more time, the examples in the table have Past
open and close syllable structure. It is noticed that in Root Glosses Suffix
tense
the first example of this set of data there is another pɦis- Mash -t̪ e pɦit̪ ɦe
addition of /-d̪e/ rather than /-t̪ e/. This variation /-d̪e/ pɦas- Caught -t̪ e pɦat̪ ɦe
in Saraiki is often found in the verbs having aspirated kɦus- Spoiled -t̪ e kɦut̪ ɦe
onsets. These kinds of changes can be considered on
the forum of irregularity. All those open syllable
According to Masica (1993), the process of
words started from aspirated onsets treated past suffix
as an irregular manner. Same kinds of examples are debuccalization is very common in Indo-Aryan
48
 IJLLT 2(3):42-53

languages. In some languages /s/ is de-buccalized, Table 13. Words having /ɦ/ in Root Coda
Saraiki also has strong diachronic and synchronic Past
Root Glosses Suffix
evidence of this different behavior of /s/. The process tense
of debuccalization in Saraiki can be observed in the Leɦ Descend - t̪ e latɦe
above examples. Here /s/ is debuccalized first and Koɦ Slaughter - t̪ e kutɦe
changed into /h/ which become aspiration after the Piɦ Grind - t̪ e Pitɦe
addition of past suffix /t̪ e/. Synchronically, we have
evidence from Urdu language (national language of In /h/-ended roots the cord of the process is like this:
Pakistan). When Saraiki speakers have Urdu words
CVh~CVhe~CVChe~CVChe and all the given data
having /s/ coda are debuccalized (a lenition process
follow the same generalization. As it is discussed
in which ‘s’ changed into ‘h’) as follows:
above that /h/ has no proper place of articulation so it
becomes aspiration when we add past suffix /t̪ e/ to
Table12. Debuccalization in Saraiki the root. Data is following the above generalization
Urdu Saraiki Glosses and no variation occurs in this set of data. Now take
Kapas Kapaɦ Cotton the similar examples of aspirated coda in the
gɦas gɦaɦ Grass following table:
h
p ans phaɦ Gallows
Sans Saɦ Breathing Table 14. Palatalizaion in Saraiki
Past
Root Glosses Suffix
Similarly, this process has evidence diachronically. tense
Masica (1993) describes the diachronic development labɦ Found -t̪ e lad̪ɦe
of /s/ into /h/. According to the author, the change of Rakh Put -t̪ e Rakhje
/s/ into /h/ is regular only in Sindhi, Saraiki, and Likh Write -t̪ e Likhje
Punjabi. MIA words “sasa” (breath) changed into parɦ Read -t̪ e Parɦje
“sans” in Hindi but “sah” into Saraiki, Sindhi, and Stand
Punjabi. Another example of this historical change is utɦ -t̪ e Uthje
up
“asa” (wish) changed into “as” in Hindi and “ah” in
Sindhi, Saraiki, and Punjabi also. However, Masica
The analysis of this data shows one variation with the
(1993) argues that this type of change occurs
addition of past suffix. In this data palatalization
historically on intervocalic positions of MIA stage
occurred due to compensatory lengthening rule. Let
and should not be confused with other positions like
us turn towards another category of suffix that is used
initial positions or geminates.
to indicate future state. Similarly, for future tense
these roots used like that;
All these examples help to understand the process
from /s/ to /ɦ/ in Saraiki. At first stage, the process of
Table 15. Future Tense
de-buccalization occurred and coda changed from /s/
Root Glosses Suffix Future
to /ɦ/. In the next stage when these roots are used in
Kha- Eat -si Khasi
past tense, the past suffix /e/ is added but /h/ do not
have any prominent place of articulation, therefore, it pi- Drink -si Pisi
would be difficult to pronounce /h/ in the intervocalic gɦin Take -si gɦinsi
situation. However, insertion of consonant could Piɦ Grind -si Piɦsi
better solve the puzzle. In Saraiki whenever /h+C/ or Rakh Put -si Rakhsi
/C+h/ (here ‘C’ stands for all consonants of Saraiki ɓeɦ Sit -si ɓaɦsi
except fricatives), /ɦ/ became the second articulator
of that consonant. Diachronically, this string of Only the insertion of /si/ in the above roots changes
change is as below: stems into future tense. The above examples have
three different kinds of roots but none has any
/s/ /h/ /hC/ /Ch/. variation except the addition of future suffix /-si/. No
matter whatever the roots and codas are only adding
This kind of change from Sanskrit to Saraiki is also /si/ can clarify the meanings. One thing should be to
noted in Masica (1993) where he explained ‘st’ to ‘th’ keep in mind for no variation is that after adding
in a similar way; this kind of developments from old suffix no hiatus or clusters of three consonants
Indo-Aryan to Middle Indo-Aryan is also noted. The appear.
Same situation noted when Saraiki has /ɦ/ ended
roots as in the following examples; Subsequent to the analysis of all three conditions of
tenses in Saraiki, one thing is clear that every state

49
Morphophonemic Variations in the Saraiki Language

has its own types of disparity. However, these consonant. Though palatalization is very common in
discrepancies have their strong logical evidence and Saraiki so Saraiki speakers do add palatalization
historical developments which make them more rather than pronouncing “-i” in feminine plurals. It
interesting. After having a long discussion on these can be observed in the examples that wherever “i” is
states we have another set of data that is as used in singular, it is changed into palatalization
interesting as we have already discussed examples, when pluralized. But there are some exceptions found
this is from singular to plural state of nouns. The next when masculine is pluralized in Saraiki. Beneath are
section gives detailed analysis of singular to the some examples of nouns that pluralized with 0
plural category. This category is also very common in suffixation
world languages and Saraiki is one of them.
Table 17. Variation in Plural Nouns
3.2.4 Number and Gender Case Masculine/si Suffix Plu Feminine/si Suffi Plur
A universal generalization about language and gender ngular es ral ngular xes als
0
is ‘if a language has a category of gender it always bɦ
suffixa
bɦ
bɦeɳ(sister) -ĩ bɦeɳĩ
has a category of number’ (Booij, 2007). The Same ira(brother)
tion
ira
generalization is valid in Saraiki. In Saraiki, the case 0
of gender from singular to plural is interesting, as it is sot̪ r(cousin) suffixa sot̪ r sot̪ r(cousin) -ĩ Sot̪ rĩ
different from other languages in many respects. In tion
0
the above section of categorization, the idea about Nai(barber) suffixa Nai
nãiɽ(female
-ĩ nãiɽĩ
different numbers of nouns shows different barber)
tion
variations. As in the above-said examples, the 0
cɦua
masculine category is different from feminine in cɦuar(boy) suffixa cɦuir(girl) -Ĩ cɦorĩ
r
tion
respect of number. The upcoming table shows the
difference:
In the first set of data, it is observed that “-e” is used
to change the singular into the plural. But there are
Table 16. Singular to Plural Nouns
Masculine(s Mutuat Plur Feminine(st Suff Plur some variations found in the above data as there is no
tem) ion al em) ix al suffixation or zero suffixation is used to make
ɗɑɗɑ(grandf ɗɑɗ ɗaɗi(grandm ɗɑɗi plurals. These variations occur only in masculine
-e -ɑ̃
ather) e other) ã nouns because for feminine nouns another suffix “-ĩ”
nɑ̃nɑ̃(grandf nɑ̃n Nãni(grandm nɑ̃ni exists in Saraiki. Other words are used to pluralize
-e -ɑ̃
ather) e othe) ɑ̃ nouns for example “/meɖe/ (my) bh irɑ” or “/sɑre/
ghoɽɑ(horse) -e
ghoɽ
ghoɽi(mare) -ɑ̃
ghoɽi (all) bh irɑ”, same is the case with “sot̪ r” also. To
e ɑ̃ pluralize “nai” and “chuar” “sare” (all) or “ɓaɦun
Cac cɑci sare” or other words are used in Saraiki. Therefore, it
cɑcɑ(uncle) -e caci(aunti) -ɑ̃
e ɑ̃
is clear that from singular to plural formation nouns,
three inflections, ‘e’, ‘ĩ’ and 0’ are used in different
From the above-given nouns, it is clear that “-e” genders. In the next discussion derivative morphemes
suffix is used to pluralize masculine nouns and the are combined with root in order to change to the
suffix “-ɑ̃” to pluralize feminine nouns. It means grammatical category of verb to noun.
different gender has different suffix. In case of
masculine nouns, one thing that needs to pay focus is
3.2.4.1 Change of imperative verbs into infinitive
the substitution. In all the given masculine cases, last
Variations can also be found in the process of
vowel is replaced by so-called suffix vowel when
changing the verb into infinitive in Saraiki. The data
pluralized. This is not a regular formation process of
is divided into different categories in order to get the
word rather an irregular process of singular to plural
clear idea about variations, which occur during the
is noted. This is not new in Saraiki, in English many
process of changing the category of a verb. Roots are
words become plural by changing the internal vowel,
divided into five groups as we have discussed above
like ‘foot~feet’, ‘woman~women’ and many others.
for adding inflectional and derivative morphemes.
In Saraiki masculine ending in vowel has no proper
The first group is based on the roots which do not
suffix rather change in vowel cause to change the
have any coda, second is consisting on roots with a
numbers.
coda, third with aspirated/breathy voiced onset and
fourth is consisting on aspirated coda and last on the
In feminine nouns, the inflectional morpheme /-ɑ̃/ root words ending with /h/. In the table below open
used to make them plural. The already present vowel syllables roots are changed into infinitives.
of feminine nouns cause to palatalize the preceding
50
 IJLLT 2(3):42-53

Table 18. Coda less Root to Infinitive Table 20. Roots with and without Coda
Root Glosses Suffix Infinitive Root Glosses Suffix Infinitive
Ji:- Live -əɳ Ji:ʋaɳ kɦɑ:- Eat -əɳ kɦɑvəɳ
ɦ
Pɑ:- Put -əɳ pɑ̃:ʋəɳ g in- Take -əɳ gɦinnəɳ
ɦ
cɑ:- Carry -əɳ cɑ̃:ʋəɳ k il- Laugh -əɳ kɦilləɳ
ɦ
ɑ:- Come -əɳ ɑ̃:ʋəɳ d̪ o:- Wash -əɳ d̪ɦõ:ʋəɳ
pi:- Drink -əɳ p:ĩʋəɳ Stand
kɦᴧɽ- -əɳ kɦᴧɽɽəɳ
kɦɑ:- Eat -əɳ kɦɑ̃:ʋəɳ up
Take
d̪ɦɑ̃:- -əɳ d̪ɦɑ̃:ʋəɳ
In the above data, examples are selected which are bath
coda less. In order to change the category of coda-
less verbs into infinitive, the suffix /əɳ/ is added to The above data is based on the words having open
the root. Though data shows the consistency of and close structure. The analysis of the data would be
adding three phonemes, in fact, /əɳ/ is considered as a the same as above data. The first, fourth and the last
suffix and /ʋ/ as an inserted consonant/semivowel. examples are coda-less so /ʋ/ is added to these
The insertion of the consonant avoids having hiatus. examples to avoid hiatus. However, other examples
The confirmation of this claim is the next set of data have coda so there is no insertion of the consonant in
having a coda. these examples.

Table 19. Roots with Coda to Infinitive Table 21. Gemination in Saraiki
Root Glosses Suffix Infinitive Root Glosses Suffix Infinitive
mᴧr- Die -əɳ mᴧrrəɳ Uth- Stand up -əɳ Uththəɳ
sᴧm- Sleep -əɳ sᴧmməɳ Rakh- Put -əɳ Rakhkhəɳ
vanj- Go -əɳ vanjjəɳ ugɦ- Wipe -əɳ ugɦgɦəɳ
kar- Do -əɳ karrəɳ ᶑekh- Watch -əɳ ᶑekhkhəɳ
mil- Meet -əɳ milləɳ
tur- Walk -əɳ turrəɳ After analyzing the variation in verbs having coda
and without, we find variations in the analysis of the
Therefore, the above set of data that is changing from above examples such as the insertion of the phoneme
verb to infinitive have coda and verify the evidence in coda-less words to change it in infinitive but not in
of insertion of /ʋ/. In this category, the consistent the words having a coda. In the present set of data,
inclusion of /-əɳ/ is observed. This insertion only we do not find any variation because these all
occurred to avoid hiatus but not in case of the close examples have a strong coda so no insertion is
syllable as mentioned above. Here there is no hiatus required here. Only a bound morpheme /əɳ/ is added
so no insertions but only addition of a suffix occur. to change the category of a verb into infinitive. The
Apart from the addition of suffix another change process of gemination also occurred to satisfy the
which might be noted is gemination. The coda of prosodic structure of Saraiki. The next set of data
every root is geminated when changed into infinitive. consists of the examples ending with /ɦ/.
As discussed before, gemination happened to follow
stress pattern. Here the lengthening of intervocalic Table 22. Roots with / ɦ / Coda
consonant completes the onset and coda. After that, Root Glosses Suffixe Noun
another set of examples that have only aspirated ɓeɦ- Sit -əɳ ɓɑ̃ɦʋəɳ/ɓɑ̃ɦəɳ
onsets are discussed. pi:ɦ- Grind -əɳ pĩ:ɦʋəɳ/pĩ:ɦəɳ
leɦ- Descending -əɳ lɑ̃ɦʋəɳ/lɑ̃ɦəɳ
ɖoɦ- Milking -əɳ ɖõʋəɳ/ɖõɦəɳ
koɦ- Slaughter -əɳ kõʋəɳ/kõɦəɳ

The behavior of /ɦ/ in Saraiki is always strange. The

above examples seem to be violating the same rule of
adding morpheme, which others have. These
dialectal variations are noted because of the presence
and absence of /ɦ/. Our assumption that insertion
only occurs when we do not have any coda seems to
1
be changed. In these examples /ɦ/ is behaving like
coda but there is also the insertion of /ʋ / when these

51
Morphophonemic Variations in the Saraiki Language

examples are changing into nouns. So by interpreting  Suffix /-nd̪a/ is used for present continuous, /-t̪ e/
the data, we may justify our above statements (as it is for past, /-nd̪e/ for past continuous and /-si/ for
already discussed, the status of /ɦ/ is Saraiki, so the future tense. However, from the verb to
same can be applied here) by saying that /ɦ/ is a infinitive a fixed morpheme /əɳ/ is added.
weak consonant and does not have a proper place so
the requirement of the coda is satisfied by the The derivational morpheme which is used for
insertion of /ʋ/. In short, we can conclude that in singular to plural varies in case of gender. Masculine
order to change the category of verb to noun only /- gender has /e/ while feminine is pluralized by adding
əɳ/ morpheme is added and in some cases /ʋ/ inserted /ɑ̃/. In some case null or zero suffixes also apply for
to avoid hiatus. plural. In short, it can be said that:

4. CONCLUSION  Zero /0/, /e/ and /ɑ̃/ suffixes are used for plural
The morphophonemic analysis in Saraiki language category.
seems very interesting and full of variations. In this
analysis, both inflectional and derivational
The morphophonemic analysis in Saraiki seems very
morphemes come into play. Since Saraiki has
interesting as it has many variations. In the context of
different affixes to indicate different categories of
language everything is not for ease of articulation of
words, however, they cannot be put under a single
unmarkedness rather some changes are also accepted
rule. Some phonological processes are very common
with the passage of time. So all the processes in the
in Saraiki morphophonemic analysis. These are
above analysis happen for the ease of articulation.
palatalization, gemination and insertion. These
processes occurred for lenition and ease of
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