08-01-207

207

KYASTH.

　Kayasth is the form of Kachchh spoken by some 500 Kyasths in Cutch. It is a mixed form of speech, based on Kachchh, but much mixed with the Mrw dialect of Rjasthn and with Gujart. As a specimen, I give a folktale. It will be seen that the only point in which Kyasth differs from these various forms of speech is the peculiar form of the suffix of the agent case of the third person singular when added to verbs.

　We may note the following points. In Kachchh we saw that, in borrowed words, such as jabhbh, an answer, or bharbhd, dissipated, the letter b has been aspirated to bh. A similar case occurs in the Kyasth specimen, in which d becomes dh in the word dharbr, a court, although, curiously enough, the very next word is jawb, an answer, in which the b remains unchanged. On the other hand, again as in Kachchh, the verbal auxiliary th becomes t, as in ka-t, he says, and k-t, I (fem.) say. So also medial h is liable to be dropped, as in r, I may remain; ra, it (fem.) remained; and k and ka mentioned above.

　In the declension of nouns, the postposition of the genitive is the Mrw r (r, r), and of the dative-accusative n, which is a corruption of the Mrw n.

　The possessive pronoun 'my' is represented by two words. The first is m-j, which is Sindh. The other is my (fem. M), which is a corruption of the Gujart mr, with the Dardic elision of r, that we have already noted in Kachchh, and the insertion of a euphonic y.

　The word for 'this' is h or , dative I-n. 'That' has its oblique singular u. The nominative is therefore probably h or .

　Other pronominal forms are:-

k, anything.

j-k, whatever.

kk-n-kk, something or other.

　There are two forms of the negative verb substantive, n and nath. The latter is Gujart. Similarly, we have the Gujart hat, he was.

　In verbs, we have the Gujart infinitive in w, as in karw-sr, for causing to be made; karw lag, he began to make. Similarly, we have the future passive participle w, fem. v, it is to be given.

　The conjunctive participle imitates the Gujart form in n, as in nkhn, having put; khyn, having eaten. A kind of frequentative conjunctive participle is kar kar, having done frequently, which reminds us of the Kshmr kr kr, with the same meaning. The present participle again follows Gujart in taking the termina- tion t, as in tht, on becoming. As in that language, it is also used as a habitual past, as in wt, he used to come; l-jt, he used to take away; lagyto, he used to apply; kht, I (fem.) used to see.

　For the old present, or present subjunctive, we have r, I may remain. The present takes the Kachchh t (Sindh th), as in k-t, I (fem.) say; ka-t, he says; pa-t, it (fem.) falls. There is also the Gujart negative present, kht nath, I (fem.) do not see. The past follows Kachchh. We may note the irregular feminine khula, opened, with which we may compare the Kachchh wa, dealt with on p. 194.