Dear Nina
I am late in replying again, but this time only because I have got to
edit the file to be uploaded, and the corrupted tables of conjugations
have taken a toll in time. And a lot of other trivialities have made me
distracted recently.
By the way, I must admit I have been reluctant to upload my notes on
conjugated verbs, particularly this file of conjugations. The reason is
that I cannot claim these to be genuine materials of Burmese tradition,
and I don't want you and others to trust me, or my work without other
valid references.
What I can say, on the other hand, is that they are a different means to
the same end --- the ability to analyze and understand Pali conjugated
verbs like the generations of Burmese students and scholars have done
and are still doing. The framework used here is my attempt to adapt the
old approach to the modern taste, and I must take all responsibility for
mistakes and weaknesses in it.
Any way, my duty here is to give an overview and to explain how it
differs from other Pali grammars, new and old.
[A word for Rett: Rett, I'd like to hear your view on this framework]
(1) Verbal stems as the key components of conjugated verbs
In classic grammars, and many modern counterparts, the derivations of
conjugated verbs usually begin with roots and end with actual verb
forms. In my approach this path of derivation is divided into two parts:
A. root + suffix / conjugational sign ---> verbal stem
B. verbal stem + verbal ending ---> verb
This is not my innovation, of course. I have found verbal stems used to
explain certain verbs in some modern grammars. However, I have extended
the concept as much as possible to cover most common verbs.
The following facts are to be known from the analysis of a verbal stem:
1. The action to be denoted by the whole verb
2. Voice (active/passive/absolute)
3. Causality (or lack of it)
4. Type of conjugation (Bhuuvaadi, etc.)
(2) Modification of verbal endings given in classic grammars
When verbal stems accept verbal endings to become actual verbs, we
needn't think in terms of roots, suffixes or conjugational signs. We
would consider only verbal stems and their ending vowels, which would
influence the derivation of the verb.
If you look at the tables of verbal endings, you would find many endings
not given in modern or classic grammars. They are based on Moggallaana
grammar --- with one important modification. I should explain it using
an example.
As an Present tense, 3rd pers., plu. Parassapada ending, Moggallaana
gives "anti". However, there is a rule for deriving "re" from "anti" for
the sake of forms such as "gacchare". On the contrary, I give both
"anti" and "are" for present tense, 3rd pers., plu. Parassapada. Then a
student needn't study the rule and, thereby, the burden of learning
would become lighter --- I hope so at least.
(3) Setting up rules for the derivations of Verbs
At this stage, I have got 4 sets of data:
1. Verbal stems ending in a, aa, e, or o
2. Verbal endings ( originating in Moggallaana but modified by myself)
3. Model conjugations given in Padaruupasiddhi, Payogasiddhi, etc.
4. Derivational rules given in Moggallaana
My job was to modify (4) so that (3) can be derived from (1) and (2).
The result of my job is the derivational rules given in that file. There
are two sets of them --- general rules and speical rules for each tense
or mood.
When a verb is to be derived from a given verbal stem and ending,
special rules are checked first. If nothing is mentioned there, general
rules should be checked, and an appropriate rule should be used.
Whenever a special rule and a general rule are in conflict, the special
rule should be given priority.
The following facts are to be known from the stage of forming an actual
verb:
1. Person
2. Number
3. Tense or mood
But how can all these rules and things be useful for actual reading?
At the end of the file, you would find how an unseen verb is to be
analyzed using the materials given there. That process of analysis is in
fact what you can find in the Burmese tradition. All those materials are
tools to help a student make such an analysis himself or herself.
(4) Exceptions given as irregular verbs
There are many verbs refusing to fit in with this framework, many of
them explained by classic grammars using specific rules. Such exceptions
are given as "irregular verbs".
hope this helps.
with metta
Ven. Pandita
> Venerable Bhante Pandita,
> Thank you very much for the explanations. I have to review all your files which I kept, but slowly it comes back what I learnt. I know that you are always very busy, and I appreciate it that you took time to explain. Many others will be glad about it too if you can add anything else to your explanations of the files you gave to us. For instance I have your file verb stems, but since they have not many explanations, I got rather stuck. still, it is a useful subject, helping us to recognize verbs in the texts. So, if you could sometimes add to it here and there, anything is of great help.
>