How different is the Pali language compared to the Sanskrit language?

Asked 12-Sep-2022
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When it comes to the study of Buddhism, there are two main languages that are used: Pali and Sanskrit. Pali is the language that was used by the Buddha himself when he was teaching, and it is also the language in which the Theravada scriptures are written. Sanskrit, on the other hand, is the language in which the Mahayana scriptures are written. Pali and Sanskrit are two very different languages. Pali is the language of the Theravada Buddhist scriptures, while Sanskrit is the language of the Hindu scriptures. While both languages are similar in many ways, there are some significant differences between them. 

How different is the Pali language compared to the Sanskrit language

So, how different are these two languages?

  • Pali is a lot more concise than Sanskrit. This is because Pali was developed specifically for the purpose of Buddhist teaching, and so it doesn't include all of the extra grammar and vocabulary that Sanskrit does. This makes Pali a lot easier to learn for those who are just starting out.

Sanskrit, on the other hand, is a lot more flowery and poetic. This is because it was developed for the purpose of Hindu scripture, and so it includes a lot of extra grammar and vocabulary that Pali doesn't. This can make Sanskrit a bit more difficult to learn, but it also makes it more beautiful to read.

  • Another difference between these two languages is that Pali is written in a different script than Sanskrit. Pali is written in the Pali alphabet, which is derived from the Brahmi alphabet. Sanskrit, on the other hand, is written in the Devanagari alphabet, which is derived from the Brahmi alphabet as well.
  • The difference between Pali and Sanskrit can be seen in their grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Pali has a simpler grammar than Sanskrit and uses a different alphabet. The vocabulary of Pali is also different from Sanskrit, with many words having different meanings. Pali also has a different pronunciation from Sanskrit, with some sounds being different. 
  • Pali also has a simpler grammar than Sanskrit. Pali verbs only have two tenses (present and past), while Sanskrit verbs have four tenses (present, past, future, and conditional). Pali also does not have the concept of gender, while Sanskrit does.
  • Pali words are also generally shorter than Sanskrit words. This is because Pali was designed to be a spoken language, while Sanskrit was designed to be a written language. 
  • The Pali alphabet is also different from the Sanskrit alphabet. Pali uses a different script than Sanskrit, and the letters are pronounced differently.
  • Finally, Pali is a more analytical language than Sanskrit. Pali words are often broken down into their component parts, while Sanskrit words are often left intact. This makes Pali a more suitable language for scientific and philosophical texts.

So, as you can see, there are some major differences between Pali and Sanskrit. But, despite these differences, they are both still very important languages in the study of Buddhism.