Sanskrit as a Natural Language?

[Shyam Ranganathan]

Dear Friends and Colleagues

I was wondering if any one could provide me some references to either articles
or books in English on the question of whether Sanskrit was ever a natural,
vernacular language, or whether what we understand as Sanskrit has for the most
part been a formalized language.

I ask because I am interested in the question of whether Sanskrit vocabulary
(particularly in philosophical texts) has displayed more stability in meaning
and function over centuries and millennia, than a language such as English.

Thank you

Shyam

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Shyam Ranganathan
Department of Philosophy, York University, Toronto     (http://shyam.org/)
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (http://www.iep.utm.edu/1/editors.htm)
                      (http://www.yorku.ca/srangan/DesiredArticleList.htm)

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