[INDOLOGY] Hindi v Sanskrit

[Dipak Bhattacharya]

16.8.15

Dear List,

<However, the long Sanskrit compounds actually correspond to the word order
in Apabhramsha and NIA languages.

The best example are the long compounds in the songs of the Gitagovinda -
it would not be difficult to render these into a modern language adding
necessary postposition/(and/ or/)endings.>

This is a valid comment. But, as Professor Stendahl has special attention
on the Gītagovinda one understands the validity of her comments as
admittedly of non-general nature. Mine is not an adverse comment but just a
pointer to the unwritten part of the comment. The author is certainly aware
of the emergence of long compounds prior to the emergence of Apabhraṁśa.

The simple nature of the compound, the Gītagovinda heritage and certainly,
as observed by the correspondent, under the influence of the literature of
the living languages, continued in the modern non-traditional Sanskrit
literature.

But the illustrations, self-made or cited, given by the late ālaṅkārikas
and exemplifying the traditional literature of the day, are not necessarily
simple. The natural beauty of Kālidāsa is lost. Though a general statement
will not be valid for all, one observes that, on the whole, the lesser
verses of Bhāravi, Māgha, Bhaṭṭi etc. exerted more influence. Their
compelling influence is sometimes in evidence in NIA too.

Best

Dipak Bhattacharya

On Sat, Aug 15, 2015 at 9:53 PM, Stella Sandahl <ssandahl at sympatico.ca>
wrote:

> Deepak Bhattacharya is right - the author of this article is certainly not
> a linguist!
> However, the long Sanskrit compounds actually correspond to the word order
> in Apabhramsha and NIA languages.
> The best example are the long compounds in the *songs* of the Gitagovinda
> - it would not be difficult to render these
> into a modern language adding necessary postposition/(and/ or/)endings.
> This explains the popularity of the Gitagovinda.
> Even somebody not versed in Sanskrit could actually follow the meaning in
> the songs. Add to these that the songs only
> have present indicative, usually 3rd person sing., or imperative. The past
> is expressed by the past participle in the songs.
> Very much like an  Apabhramsha/NIA language. See my* Le Giitagovinda.
> Tradition et innovation dans le kaavya,*  (Stockholm 1977)
> unfortunately written in French and hence not very much read.
> The Sanskrit compound is not at all as complicated as students (and even
> teachers) like to think.
> Best
> Stellla Sandahl
>
>
> On Aug 14, 2015, at 11:09 PM, George Hart <glhart at berkeley.edu> wrote:
>
> (Sorry—I should correct this — I meant Hindi and English, not Hindi and
> Sanskrit).
>
> Sanskrit compounds, even when they are several lines long, tend to
> reproduce very closely Dravidian syntactical order and usage. I remember
> reading a historical novel in Malayalam that had Sanskrit compounds of 10
> or 15 words. Malayalis would have little trouble with these, as their own
> language works the same way — all they need is to know the vocabulary,
> which they do. Of course, Sanskrit compounds can seem difficult if one’s
> native language does not mimic their syntax. Both Hindi and English are
> right-branching, whereas Dravidian is left-branching. Naturally, people who
> speak those languages find Sanskrit compounds, which are left-branching
> like Dravidian languages, somewhat difficult. George Hart
>
> On Aug 14, 2015, at 4:41 PM, patrick mccartney <psdmccartney at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> An interesting article about an interesting study in Sanskrit compounds
> and why we prefer not to use them.
>
>
> http://www.financialexpress.com/article/lifestyle/science/why-we-prefer-easier-hindi-over-complicated-sanskrit-language/119387/
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