Dear Hung Le Tran,

In answer to your questions, in short:

1. No, the language used by the Buddha in his sermons was most probably a dialect of Maagadhii - the language spoken at this time in the ancient country of Magadha. It is believed that Pali is based on this particular Prakrit (i.e. vernacular). Pali is the language of the oldest Buddhist literature - the Pali Canon or Tipi.taka written down in 1st century BCE in Sri Lanka.
2. Sanskrit (called also Devavaa.nii - "divine sound") is the language of Hindu sacred literature and it is much older - from second millennium BCE. Still, the Mahaayaana Suutras from 1st millennium are written in a later form of Sanskrit - so called Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit (BHS). There is similarities in pronunciation and grammar between Sanskrit and Pali, but these of Pali are more simplified.
3. Therefore, the spelling is different.

For more detailed explanation about Pali language and literature I would recommend you the introduction of the textbook "A New Course in Reading Pali" by James Gair and W.S. Karunatilleke and also first chapter of "Pali Literature and Language" by W. Geiger.

With metta,
Ardavarz

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, HUNG TRAN <tranlehung@...> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
> I am a vietnamese buddhist.  I recently joined the group.  I would like to say hi to everybody.  Wish you all success in studying Pali.
>
> I have a couple questions.
> 1. My current understanding is that Pali came about in 4th or 5th century.  Sanskrit is when Lord Buddha used to talk to followers.  Is this true?
>
> 2. Sanskrit is known as the language of the deity.  The pronunciation of Sanskrit is similar to that of the Pali.  Is this concept right?
>
> 3.  if the answer to question 2 is correct, then the spelling (writing of pali ) of pali is different from Sanskrit.
>
> I am confused because Wikipedia seems to be confusing in different paragraphs when you search for the Pali versus Sanskrit differences. 
>
> Regards,
> Hung Le Tran
> California, USA
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