Phonological Changes of Initial Consonant Clusters in the Persian Language from the Old to the Modern Era

Initial consonant clusters as frequent and remarkable phenomena are of great importance for the study of Old Iranian Languages. These clusters have been broken or reduced moderately, and occasionally eliminated entirely in the course of the development of Old Iranian Languages, particularly Old Persian and sometimes Avestan, into Middle Persian, and then of Middle Persian into New Persian. This paper aimed at discerning, and then classification of, various phonological changes by which these clusters have been reduced. In this survey, 398 New Persian derivatives of Old Iranian origin contained such clusters have been analysed to achieve the target. Some of the most significant results obtained in this study include: 1. the accurate classification of changes into 6 main categories encircling 15 variations in the case of two-consanant clusters, as well as into 3 main groups including 6 variations subject to three-consonant clusters; 2. identifying a. anaptyxis, b. second consonant deletion along with first consonant development, and c. initial dropping (initial consonant deletion) as the 3 most active changes 35 two-consonant clusters have been involved with; 3. identifying a. first and third deletion, and b. initial dropping along with anaptyxis as the 2 most effectual changes imposed upon 4 three-consonant clusters.