Re: Paali

Mention shoold also be made of the oldest Pāli writings still extant and
dating from the fifth cent. A.D. There is an excellent article on this in
JPTS XXI 1995 199ff under the title of:

The Oldest Known Pāli Texts, 5th–6th century,
Results of the Cambridge Symposium on
the Pyu Golden Pāli Text from Śrī Kṣetra,
         18-19 April 1995

        by Janice Stargardt

The Journal can be downloaded from the PTS website (palitext.com). However
there are no photos or transcripts of these writings which would be very
interesting to see. Towards the end of the article it is said that the Pāli
of the 5th century A.D. hasn't changed all that much to this day. In that
case, I would add, it would not be far-fetched to assume that 5th century
Pali hadn't changed much either since the Tipiṭaka was first set down in
writing in the 1st century B.C. and still better preserved before from the
time of the Buddha by way of the three great councils, the oral
transmission, and the extraordinary memories of arahants.

Best wishes,

Jim