Dear Nina and Pali friends

 

How are you?

 

In my e-mail, I wrote:

 

 

The Pali term ‘vinnyaanam’ is formed from ‘vi’+ ‘nyaa’ + ‘yu’.

As you know, ‘vi’ is an adverb suffix. ‘nyaa’ is a verb root called ‘dhaatu’ while ‘yu’ is a suffix to make a noun from a verb root.

____________________________________________________________

In the above paragraph, I made a spelling mistake when I wrote… ‘vi’ is an adverb suffix’. I meant to write ‘prefix’ instead of ‘suffix’.

So, please kindly read “… ‘vi’ is an adverb prefix.”

‘y’ is not a visible suffix, but it is a useful linguistic token that determines a visible suffix. In the case of the term ‘vinnyaanam’, the visible or audible suffix is ‘na’.

With regards,

Suan Lu Zaw

 

 



--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, <pali@yahoogroups.com> wrote:


Dear Bryan, 
here is the post by suan, Abhidhammika. I find it really very good and clear. 
Begin doorgestuurd bericht:

Datum: 11 september 2013 17:19:34 GMT+02:00
Aan: "Nina van Gorkom" <vangorko@...>
Onderwerp: RE: nibbaana and vi~n`naana.m

 
 

 
The Pali term ‘vinnyaanam’ is formed from ‘vi’+ ‘nyaa’ + ‘yu’.
As you know, ‘vi’ is an adverb suffix. ‘nyaa’ is a verb root called ‘dhaatu’ while ‘yu’ is a suffix to make a noun from a verb root.
 
So, ‘vinnyaanam’ is a noun formed from a verb. It is not a participle.   
 
The definition of ‘vinnyaanam’ is “aaramanam vijaanaatiiti vinnyaanam”.
“It is called ‘consciousness’ because it knows a stimulus.”
 
Thus, when ‘vinnyaanam’ is found in the context of knowing a stimulus, it should be translated as consciousness.
 
However, when ‘vinnyaanam’ is found in the context of indicating ‘nibbaana’, it should be translated in the passive voice as done by the commentary on Kevatta Suttam in Siilakkhandhavagga Diighanikaaya Atthakathaa.
 
“Vinnyaatabbanti vinnyaanam nibbaanassetam naamam.”  
“It is called ‘Knowable’ because it is known uniquely; it is the name of nibbaana.”
 --------
Nina.