Balochi gw(a)á-, Pahlavi -w(a)á- and New Persian -bá-: Preservation and Loss of /g/ in Iranian Historical Phonology

Abstract

Balochi is the only ancient language of Iran, which has still preserved its phonological, morphological and syntactical structures, while the other modern Iranian languages mostly lost their ancient phonological, morphological and syntactical structures. In this research paper, the preservation of proto-Iranian (PI)sound of Balochi gw(a)á- which is converted -w(a)á- in Pahlaví and -bá- in other Iranian languages. the other ancient languages like Avesta (Av), Old Persian (OP), and Pahlavi Aškání (PahAš) have lost the -/g/- of gw(a)á- and converted it -w(a)á- in Pahlavi and -bá- in New Persian. In this paper, we will thoroughly study the sound gw(a)á- and w(a)á- and Persian bá- to know the reduction of old Iranian /g/ sound, its reduction in Pahlavi (Pah) and New Persian and preservation in the Balochi language.