Dear Thomas (hjor 9),
welcome here.
I have a go at it, but those who are well read in the texts may complement
what I write. You remarks are interesting.
op 23-03-2006 21:33 schreef hjor9 op hjor9@...:

> In the vocabulary list (page 1 for those following along :P), de Silva
> gives 3 words for "man": manussa, nara and purisa. I was wondering if
> there are differences between these words.
>
> I checked Warder and found that manussa "man, human" is opposed with
> amanussa "non-human", so I think I understand the connotation of that
> word.

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N: Often in connection with devas. It indicates someone born in the human
plane of existence.
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Th:

> I couldn't find anything concerning nara vs purisa. Are these two
> words interchangable? Are there subtle differences? Do they mean
> "man" in general as in "person"? Is one of them "man" as opposed to
> "woman"?

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Yes, purisa as distinguished from itthi, woman.
But in compounds the use of purisa is different. Mahaa-purisa, the Great
Being, denotes the Bodhisatta. Sappurisa stands for an ariyan, and
enlightened one.
Nara: Ven. Dhammanando once said that it can stand for hero just in poetical
sense. I was inclined to translate it as hero. We can translate as: a man...
The PED gives: to be strong or valiant.
In the Mahaaniddesa (I use the Thai edition), it is often used to indicate
someone with many good qualities. A.t.tada.ndasutta: <The 'nara' overcomes
sleep, laziness, discouragement, he is not heedless... he inclines to
nibbaana.>
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Th: I have the same questions about the words de Silva gives for "friend".

> Are sahaaya, sahaayaka and mitta completely interchangable? Do they
> have slight differences in meaning?

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N: I associate mitta with mettaa, the person we have mettaa for.
Sahaaya: I am inclined to use it for Dhamma sahaaya, friend in Dhamma.
PED gives companion. I think, a friend who fares along with you, in study,
in practice.
But let us see whether our Pali study sahaayas come up with more
suggestions.
Nina.