Question on Pali syntax

[Madhav Deshpande]

Dear Rich,

     I think Edgerton's suggestion seems to point in the right historical
direction.  The other explanation I found in Bhikkhu Sujato's book on "A
History of Mindfulness" (p. 296fn), but I don't think it is correct:
"Presumably this was merely a reciter's glitch, as they mechanically
repeated the phrase from earlier sections, without noticing the change in
number from singular to plural.  Innocuous enough, but a reminder of the
fallibility of the tradition."  This is too strong a conclusion, since this
phrase, and this pattern of atthi with a plural noun is fairly widespread
in the Pali texts.  Thanks for pointing me to Edgerton's suggestion.  Best,

Madhav

On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 1:55 PM, Richard G Salomon <
rsalomon at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> Dear Madhav,
>
> Edgerton, BHSG #25.4, p. 129 notes "frequent use of atthi with plural
> subject," referring to Geiger 141.1 ("otherwise this usage seems to be
> virtually ignored in the books on Pali or Pkt." -- I haven't checked
> Oberlies on this).
>
> As noted by Edgerton, this is a manifestation of a broader phenomenon in
> MIA whereby  the 3rd. sg. verb is beginning to be generalized to all
> persons and numbers.
>
> Rich
>
>
> On Thu, 15 Nov 2012, Madhav Deshpande wrote:
>
>  Hello Colleagues,
>>
>>      I am reading the Mahāsatipaṭṭhānasutta from the Dīghanikāya with a
>> few students.  In
>> this Sutta, phrases like atthi kāyo, atthi cittam, atthi vedanā are quite
>> frequent, and
>> pose no problems.  However, then comes the phrase atthi dhammā a few
>> times.  It is quite
>> clear from the context that dhammā is nominative plural (other refs in
>> the context in
>> plural: dhammesu dhammānupassī).  I am wondering how to explain the
>> syntax of the phrase
>> atthi dhammā.  Any suggestions?  Perhaps, K.R. Norman might have an
>> explanation.  Does
>> anyone have his email address?  Thanks.
>>
>> Madhav
>>
>> --
>> Madhav M. Deshpande
>> Professor of Sanskrit and Linguistics
>> Department of Asian Languages and Cultures
>> 202 South Thayer Street, Suite 6111
>> The University of Michigan
>> Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1608, USA
>>
>>
>>
>>


-- 
Madhav M. Deshpande
Professor of Sanskrit and Linguistics
Department of Asian Languages and Cultures
202 South Thayer Street, Suite 6111
The University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1608, USA


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