Word studies - Part 1

Analytical study of the word “Hupeyya”
Introduction
The study of phonology is important to understand the changes and the actual meaning of a word. Then, one would have more appreciation and comprehension and also understanding of the original teaching of Buddha and commentaries which are called Tipiṭaka.
By comparing Pāḷi and Sanskrit language, we can see changes in the pronunciation due to different dialect and region. In brief, changes in word are due to different ways of pronunciation and the tongue of human beings. Some letters are not spoken by people. For example, lingual consonants (ṭ,ṭh, ḍ,ḍh,ṇ) are not pronounced by most Asian, are most to do with Damil (tamil) people.. Also, Chinese people cannot pronounce these letters – “ḷ”, “r”, because the tongue must be curled up. These letters do not exist in their language. Hence, instead of “ṭ”, people would pronounce as “t” or “d” as they are easier to pronounce.

Explanation by commentary
For this sentence “hupeyyapāvuso, arahasi anantajino’’ti”, commentary gives more information - Arahasi anantajinoti anantajinopi bhavituṃ yuttoti attho. Anantañāṇo jitakilesoti anantajino. Hupeyyapāvusoti āvuso evampi nāma bhaveyya, evaṃvidhe,  Arahasi means bhavituṃ yutto (suitable to be). Thus, commentary shows hupeyya comes from bhaveyya.

Hupeyya means “would be, might be, should be”.

Philology
The root of word Hupeyya is √hū or √bhū. √Hū is a contracted form of √bhū  (to exist,to be) . “Bh” can becomes “h” because there is a grammatical rule explains that ‘h’ can become second consonant of a group and vice versa just like purisebhi can become purisehi.
There are few ways to form huveyya word.
1. The ‘ū’of the root √hū becomes ‘uv’ .Or, when followed by ‘eyya’, ending letter of root ū’ becomes ‘uv’.       (√hū > huv + eyya > huveyya).

2. In order to become ‘huv’, ending vowel ‘ū’ of “hū” is changed to ‘o’ then ‘av’. Due to labial –‘v’, ‘a’ vowel becomes ‘u’. And then, ‘eyya’ is added. (√hū > ho > hav > huv + eyya > huveyya).
3. Or from Sanskrit side, ‘hū’ is strengthened to be ‘hau’. Then ‘u’ becomes its semi-vowel ‘v’.
(√hū > hau > hav)

4. The hū is a weak form of √hve . To avoid double consonant and due to labial consonant -‘v’ influence, ‘u’ is inserted.     (√hve + eyya > huve+eyya > huveyya )

5. Huveyya is similar as bhaveyya. ‘Bh’ becomes ‘h’. ‘U’ of root ‘bhū’ becomes ‘av’. Due to influence of neighboring labial consonant-‘v’, ‘a’ becomes ‘u’.   (√bhū  + eyya > bhav + eyya > bhuveyya > huveyya.)

Why “huveyya” change to “hupeyya”?
1. Other forms for hupeyyapāvuso are huveyyapāvuso (sī.) huveyyāvuso (syā.)  should be studied.  The reason is due to stressed fourth syllable-“pā”, second syllable –‘ve’ becomes “pe”.   (huveyyapāvuso > hupeyyapāvuso)
Conclusion
Since in the ancient time, the words are not written down, but learn by heart, thus the way of pronunciation changes according to places and dialects. Thus the words are pronounced different according to dialects and regions, like bhū or hū, huveyya or hupeyya.

Reference:
1. Pāḷi in CSCD
2. Ashin Janaka, Māhavā –Bhāsāṭīkā
3. Monier-Williams , Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary
4. Charles Duroiselle, A Practical Grammar of the Pāḷi Language

                                                                   [Part 2>]