Re: Paali

Dear D.C.,

<< There is a very simple principle behind this: Start from the known. Then
research the unknown. This is the principle behind genuine original
scientific research aiming to discover new things. I give below a quote
which has a similar meaning. >>

Isn't becoming better acquainted with what has been said or written about an
obscure term a start with what is thought to be known? (Even if some
statements turn out to be inaccurate or misleading.)

<< “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.”
― Ludwig Wittgenstein
<http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7672.Ludwig_Wittgenstein>, *Tractatus
Logico-Philosophicus <http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3157863>* >>

Good quote, I happen to have the book in German with an English translation.

<< English dictionary gives the defintion in English; Pali-English also
gives the defintion in English.
So no problem. Pali is the anglicized form of Paali.>>

An English dictionary gives the meaning(s) in an English context while a
Pali-English dictionary gives the same in a Pali context.

<<< 3. << My approach..to study.definitions of Pali, Sanskrit, and
English...>>>

<< Yes, no problem what I did was to start with the articles in EB and
Wikipedia. Please read them; they don't agree on anything. >>

I'll add these articles to my reading list.

<<< 4. << The definition or signification...>>>

<< I agree. With regard to grammar there is a problem. Pali grammar and
English grammar are different. If we are writing in English it is necessary
to stick to English grammar. I am just alerting you to this problem. Please
do think about this. >>

I'm well aware that there are differences between Pali and English grammar,
I'm well-furnished with authoritative grammars for both languages.

<<< 5. << A.K. Warder>>>

<< Warder's grammar is the most important pali grammar in English, I have.
Chapter 1 of the book gives a very comprehensive account of the differences
between English grammar and Pali grammar. >>

I began with Warder's Introduction to Pali when I first started to study
Pali seriously in 1976. I very much appreciated his introdution to the
terminology of traditional Pali grammar which soon inspired me to take up
the study of the Saddanīti (Warder's authority) and Panini's grammar. That's
why I approach Pali from both a Western and an Indian perspective.

I have a question: where did you see sa + anu as a derivation of sānu? I've
only been able to find san + u in my Pali and Sanskrit texts (Abh-ṭ and
Uṇādikoṣa).

Best wishes,

Jim