[Buddha-l] Pali

[Sally McAra]

Richard P. Hayes wrote:

>
>It has always been my practice, even here in the land of no buddhas, to
>teach people just enough grammar and vocabulary to enable them to
>understand the meaning of whatever they chant. Most people who have said
>anything at all to me about it have said that understanding the meaning
>has deepened their appreciation of the practice of chanting in Pali.
>  
>
I like the sound of that - I've long been fascinated by languages and 
have wondered about the actual grammar and vocab (have delved into many 
languages over the years as part of my travels - Spanish, Turkish, and 
bits of others, also I learnt Maori at school) but haven't learnt 
sanskrit or Pali or Tibetan.

Has anyone written up this sort of explanation (that they could email to 
me, or give a web or bibliographic reference to), e.g. of the Pali 
version of the refuges and precepts, that provides a breakdown of the 
grammar and vocab? I'd be very interested to see this, even though I do 
not at present want to go into learning the ins and outs of it all.
I find myself hearing these words, or even chanting them, and wondering 
about which word corresponds to which part of the english versions i've 
seen....
Cheers
Sally

-- 
Sally McAra
PhD candidate
Department of Anthropology 
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1001
New Zealand
http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/ant/Student%20Details/StudentPages/SallyMcara.htm