[INDOLOGY] Sandhi and grammar

[Harry Spier]

Dear list members,
I've wondered for a long time why sanskrit sandhi has any dependence on
grammar and is not solely determined by preceding or following
letters/sounds.

For example why should internal sandhi have any differences from external
sandhi. As MacDonell says, "The most notable divergence from external
sandhi is the unchangeableness of the final consonans of verbal and nominal
stems before terminations beginning with vowels, semivowels and nasal

Or why should  *ī *,*ū* or *e* when dual terminations (and only when dual
terminations) remain unchanged before vowels.

In other words, in these cases why should grammar and not just adjacent
sounds determine whether sandhi occurs.
Thanks,
Harry Spier
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