Dear Khanh Trong Huynh,
My answer to your question is that it is not necessary to learn any of those
languages you mention in order to facilitate your study of Pali. It depends
on your inclination and where you want to go with your study of Pali. Many
would argue why even bother with Pali when there are translations.
However, if so inclined, I would recommend Sanskrit and Burmese as being
helpful to Pali study. It is also helpful to be able to read Pali texts in
several Asian scripts, especially Devanāgari, Burmese, Sinhala, and Thai
which I make use of in my studies. I would like to be able to make better
use of the comprehensive Pāli-Myanmar dictionary and learn how to read
Burmese nissayas (word-by-word commentaries on Pali texts). I started on
Sanskrit at about the same time I started studying Warder's Introduction to
Pali 40 years ago.
Best wishes,
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "KHANH TRONG HUYNH testsuda@... [palistudy]"
<palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
To: "Pali Study Group" <palistudy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: September 30, 2016 5:35 AM
Subject: [palistudy] About Pali through Diaclect medium
Dear all,
Cause I have just known about the Pali Nissaya and been aware that in
addition to Western methods, translations, reference texts... we also have
an important source for reference and study of Pali - that is to say, the
dialect texts of Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand...
I wonder I should learn Burmese or Sinhalese / Siamese to facilitate my Pali
study. Is it truly necessary? My first priority is the Pali language itself
and translation skills in particular. The comprehensive knowledge of
Theravada Buddhism is placed at the second for me.
I am eager to see what you would advise.
Sincerely yours,