19 n 2. There are two sets of palatals. One is derived from IE pre-palatal stops : ś, sh, z, ;'h<IE k, kh, , gh. The other group comes from IE velars and labio-velars when followed immediately by a palatal vowel: c, ch, i, jh, <IE q (qu), qh (quh), G (Gw), Gh (Gwh). 3. The declensional and conjugational patterns are not much different from that of Old Indo-Aryan but there are larger number of alternative and archaic forms and much less uniformity. A word may end in a consonant group. The augment (in impf and aor.) is generally not used; Of the innova- tions two are of special importance. In declension the influence of the pronoun is noticeable. In conju- gation the primary endings are used also in the subjunctive mood (e.g. bhavāti beside older bhavāt). There is not yet a future tense, futurity as such being expressed by the present or by the subjunctive or implied by the context. There are two main dialect-groups in Indo- Iranian : (i) Proto-Iranian and (ii) Proto-Indo-Aryan. The earliest evidence of Proto-Indo-Aryan is to be found in the word aika-'one' (as against Proto-Iranian aiva-) and in some names of gods (e.g. Varuņa, Näsatya, Indra) occurring in some Mitannian (Hittite) documents dated in the fourteenth century B.C. od The main points of disagreement between Proto- Iranian and Proto-Indo-Aryan are as follows :- (a) The voiced aspirated are retained in PIA but become deaspirated (or very rarely) devoiced in
