By: Vidushi Agrawal
Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages in the world. It is considered a dead language since it is no longer fluently spoken. However, it influenced many of the languages we know today.
According to legend, the language was created by the god Brahma, who then passed it on to the sages on Earth. Sanskrit was said to be used to communicate with the gods in the heavens above. The first traces of written Sanskrit dated back to the 2nd millennium BCE and consisted of sacred hymns. These hymns were most likely passed down through oral tradition.
Sanskrit is classified into two categories: Vedic and Classical. Named after the Vedas sacred texts it is found in, Vedic Sanskrit was the most original form of the language. This form is filled with complex vocabulary, grammar, phonology, and syntax. Vedic Sanskrit consists of 16 vowels and 36 consonants. These 52 letters are said to have been the same since they developed, making it one of the “purest” languages in the world. Vedic Sanskrit has mostly been used in sacred texts relating to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Much ancient poetry, drama, and literature in India are written in this form of Sanskrit. According to historians, Classical Sanskrit developed at the end of the Vedic period, which was around the 4th century BCE. Classical Sanskrit is so vast it has over 250 just to describe rainfall and 65 words to describe Earth among more descriptions. It is largely used for prayers and mantras for worship. In India, Sanskrit is considered above the rest of the 5000 languages spoken there. What is the difference between Vedic and Classical Sanskrit? The key changes from Vedic to Classical are the loss of the pitch, accent, the subjunctive mood, various kinds of infinitives, and the change in articulation of certain sounds. There is a difference in the style of writing as well.
Sanskrit had a large impact on Indian languages like Hindi and Telugu. It also impacted Sino-Tibetian languages with the influence of Buddhist texts. Some words in the Chinese language have been borrowed from Sanskrit. Languages in Thailand and Sri Lanka have many similar words to Sanskrit as well. Above all, many words in English are derived from Sanskrit. For example, the word attack comes from the Sanskrit word akramana, meaning to take aggressive action. The English word man is derived from the Sanskrit word manu. There are many more examples of the impact Sanskrit had on English. Sanskrit even made an impact on today’s world aside from language. Sanskrit is a rule-bound, formula-bound, and logical language, making it similar to an algorithm. Due to this many experts say that it is the best language for programming.
Sanskrit has a long and rich history. This sacred language is often traced back to gods and worship. Some of its purity has been diluted nowadays due to its overly complex grammar and vocabulary. Many of the languages used today have been impacted one way or another by this language. Sanskrit is a truly admirable language.
Bibliography:
https://oursanskrit.com/2018/06/24/lesson-42-vedic-sanskrit-introduction/#:~:text=Vedic%20Sanskrit%20differed%20from%20classical,inflected%20participles%20and%20genuine%20prepositions.&text=Quote-,The%20difference%20between%20Vedic%20Sanskrit%20and%20Classical%20Sanskrit%20is%20not,Old%20English%20and%20Modern%20English.
https://www.ancient.eu/Sanskrit/#:~:text=Classical%20Sanskrit%20has%20its%20origin,refined%20version%20of%20the%20language.
https://bstrategyhub.com/sanskrit-is-the-best-language-for-artificial-intelligence-says-nasa/
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