Description
Book SynopsisThis textbook uses modern approaches and tools to teach Sanskrit, introducing readers early on to annotated original passages. It requires no prior knowledge of linguistics or ancient languages, and clearly explains underlying structures and systems to facilitate memorisation. A dedicated website provides numerous resources for further practise.
Trade Review'… a fresh and engaging approach … which takes the learner's concerns fully into account. Full of sage practical advice while maintaining rigorous instructional standards.' Paul Dundas, University of Edinburgh
'[An] excellent introduction to Sanskrit, making the language accessible to the beginner but informed of the latest research.' James Clackson, University of Cambridge
'[The] clarity and simplicity of the explanations make the book very well suited for self-study …; well designed for use by students with no prior acquaintance with South Asia, or with other classical languages …' Lawrence McCrea, Cornell University
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; Studying Sanskrit; List of abbreviations; Notes for the reader; 1. Writing Sanskrit; 2. The system of Sanskrit sounds; 2a. Word stress: heavy and light syllables; 3. Road maps: verbs; 4. The present tense; 5. Road map: nominals; 6. a-stems; 7. Vowel gradation and why we need to know about it; 8. Absolutives, ta-participle and infinitives; introduction to internal sandhi; 9. ā-stems; 10. Prepositions and preverbs; 11. Introduction to external sandhi I: consonant sandhi; 12. Imperfect indicative and present potential; 13. ī- and ū-stems; sandhi II: visarga sandhi; 14. Compound nouns; 15. Consonant stems I; 16. Sandhi III: vowel sandhi; 17. Noun formation; 18. Athematic verbs I; 19. Athematic verbs II; 20. Introduction to pronouns; pronouns I; 21. The future tense; middle and passive voice; 22. More participles; pronouns II; 23. Relative and correlative clauses; 24. Consonant stems II; imperatives; 25. Noun stems gradation; consonant stems III; 26. i- and u-stems; 27. The perfect tense I: regular perfect formation; 28. The perfect tense II: irregular and unexpected forms; 29. ṛ-stems, n-stems; the periphrastic future; 30. Secondary middle endings I: thematic verbs; 31. Secondary middle endings II: athematic verbs; 32. Pronouns III: 1st- and 2nd-person pronouns; 33. Desideratives and gerundives; 34. The periphrastic perfect; ta-participles ending in -na; 35. Perfect participles; more comparatives; 36. Absolute constructions; pronouns IV; 37. Numerals; 38. Aorists; 39. Pronouns V: asau/adas-; 40. Some irregular nouns; Appendices: Appendix 1. Devanāgarī practice handouts; Appendix 2. Background; Appendix 3. Reference; Index.
