On the Change Proto-Tocharian *-kS- > Tocharian A -pS-

Abstract

Of the two Tocharian languages, i.e. Tocharian A and B, it is well known that the Proto-Tocharian cluster *-kS- is sometimes reflected as -pS- in Tocharian A whereas the same cluster is preserved as -kS- in Tocharian B. While there are a number of brief references to this phenomenon in the literature, no comprehensive investigation of the available data and nature of this change has been carried out. Here I collect all of the known examples and discuss the conditions under which this change may occur and the nature of the change from a crosslinguistic perspective. I argue that *-kS- >-pS- can be understood as an instance of change within the framework of Blevins’ (2004) ccc-model of sound change.