Important linguistic terminology

Question 1

Phonological terminology for the वर्णमाला of Sanskrit

Answer 1

1. वर्ण Vowels: simple and complex
2. व्यञ्जन consonants: stops and nasals, semi-vowels, sibilants, aspirant
3. stops and nasals: velar, palatal, retroflex, dental, labial

Question 2

categories of the Sanskrit verb (क्रिया)

Answer 2

• person पुरुष (3: प्रथमपुरुषः मध्यमपुरुषः उत्तमपुरुषः)
• number वचन (3: एकवचनम् द्विवचनम् बहुवचनम्)
• tense काल (वर्तमान pres. भविष्यत् fut. भूत् past*)
• mood लकार (indicative: I go, potential: I could-should-might-would go, imperative: go!)
• voice प्रयोग (परस्मैपद active: I see, आत्मनेपद middle:** I see myself, passive: I am seen)

eg: भरिष्यन्ति = they (-न्ति) will (इष्य) carry (भर) [ind. act.]

“I will go” (1st singular future indicative active)

“they would be carried” (3rd plural present subjunctive passive).

ie/ Skt. verbs tell us who is doing something (person, number), when (tense) and how it is done (mood, voice).

* the three forms of past tense are ? अनद्यतन imperfect, लिट` perfect, and अद्यतनी aorist ?

** Middle Voice is now redundant see here. It used to carry the sense of ‘I act in a way that affects myself.” Eg/ I wash myself. I see myself.

Question 3

Dictionary form for verbs

Answer 3

A complete dictionary entry for the verb ‘to give’ is as follows:

• Root धातु = √दा dā
• Verb Class = III
• 3rd Sg Present = ददाति dadāti
• Meaning = ‘to give’

A functional verb consists of:

• Root धातु: The minimal shape of a verb. eg/ √पत्
• Stem प्रतिपदिक: The root plus different affixes. eg/ पत- पतिष्य-
• An ending denotes person and number and completes the word. eg/ पतति पतिष्यति