Modern languages closest to Pali

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vitellius
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Re: Modern languages closest to Pali

Post by vitellius »

Dmytro wrote:Thanks for correction. So first Sanskrit texts date to period about 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.
To the 5th century BCE, I would say, since the first (and normative) work in Classical Sanskrit is considered to be Panini's Astadhyayi. The introduction of the name "Sanskrit" is not directly connected with the origin of Classical Sanskrit, just as the term "Ukrainian" was introduced much later than all distinctive features of the language were formed.

I agree with the rest of your message.
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Assaji
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Re: Modern languages closest to Pali

Post by Assaji »

Hi Mr Man,
Mr Man wrote:How about the Oriya language which is spoken in Orissa (India)?
Thank you, it seems even closer.

"The script in the edicts of Ashoka in 2nd century BC at Dhauli and Jaugada and the inscriptions of Kharavela in Hati Gumpha of Khandagiri give us the first glimpse of possible origin of Oriya language. From the point of view of language, the inscriptions of Hati Gumpha are near modern Oriya and essentially different from the language of the Ashokan edicts. A point has also been made as to whether Pali was the prevalent language in Orissa during this period. The Hati Gumpha inscriptions, which are in Pali, are perhaps the only evidence of stone inscriptions in Pali. This may be the reason why the German linguist Prof. Hermann Oldenberg mentioned that Pali was the original language of Orissa."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriya_language" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hathigumpha_inscription" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"The only inscription, the language of which is akin to Pali, is the Hati-Gumpha inscription of Kharavela, dated the 160th year of the Maurya era."

http://books.google.com.ua/books?id=QYx ... 9&lpg=PA19" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://books.google.com.ua/books?id=XdC ... A5&lpg=PA5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Journal ... f/9-10.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://gujaratisbs.webs.com/Abstracts%2 ... 20More.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I missed it, since it is called Utkali on the diagram:

http://books.google.com.ua/books?id=5eD ... &lpg=PA264" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Best wishes, Dmytro
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Assaji
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Re: Modern languages closest to Pali

Post by Assaji »

Oleksandr wrote:To the 5th century BCE, I would say, since the first (and normative) work in Classical Sanskrit is considered to be Panini's Astadhyayi. The introduction of the name "Sanskrit" is not directly connected with the origin of Classical Sanskrit, just as the term "Ukrainian" was introduced much later than all distinctive features of the language were formed.
Well, it's hard to date the Panini's work.

"An important hint for the dating of Panini is the occurrence of the word yavanānī (in 4.1.49, either "Greek woman", or "Greek script") There would have been no first-hand knowledge of Greeks in Gandhara before the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 330s BC."

"The earliest inscription in Sanskrit is by the Saka Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman at Junagarh in Gujarat dated to AD 150. However, even here several of the words are wrong according to Sanskrit grammatical rules, some words show Prakrit influence and a few are un-Paninian."

http://www.oration.com/~mm9n/articles/d ... nskrit.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
vitellius
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Re: Modern languages closest to Pali

Post by vitellius »

Dmytro wrote:"There would have been no first-hand knowledge of Greeks in Gandhara before the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 330s BC."
Prior to Alexander, both North-West India and some Greek lands were parts of the Achaemenid Empire. I remember reading that some Greeks were settled in NW India by Achaemenid rulers, but I don't remember the source.

The Greeks are also mentioned in MN 93.
Dmytro wrote:"The earliest inscription in Sanskrit is by the Saka Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman at Junagarh in Gujarat dated to AD 150. However, even here several of the words are wrong according to Sanskrit grammatical rules, some words show Prakrit influence and a few are un-Paninian."
This reflects the lack of Sanskrit usage in administration in the period concerned.
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Assaji
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Re: Modern languages closest to Pali

Post by Assaji »

Oleksandr wrote:Prior to Alexander, both North-West India and some Greek lands were parts of the Achaemenid Empire. I remember reading that some Greeks were settled in NW India by Achaemenid rulers, but I don't remember the source.

The Greeks are also mentioned in MN 93.
Yes, indeed.

Thank you.
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