C21. Experimental Methods in the Study of Hindi Geminate Consonants

21.1 Introduction
long consonants=geminates
Purpose:
provide answers about long consonants or geminates, using an experimental approach in the analysis of Hindi geminates.

The specific topics of this paper:
(a)the duration of geminates and of the vowels preceding them
(b) long distance durational effects
(c)the duration of geminates vis-a-vis clusters and of the vowel preceding these
(d)the syllabification of geminates and the issue of their integrity
(e)the status of "apparent"geminates

21.1.1 Some facts about geminates in Hindi:
1.geminates involve the consonantal closure held for a longer period
2.geminates are not two separate consonants
3.geminates occur only intervocalically
4.geminates are always preceded by short vowels

21.1.2 Diachronic data on development of geminates
(1) Examples of geminate formation in the history of Indo-Aryan
Sanskrit bhakta meal, food > Pali/Prakrit bhatta
Sanskrit sapta seven > Pali/Prakrit satta
Sanskrit dugha-milk > MLA duddha-