SV: [Y-Indology] Historical truths about Indology

[Guest guest]

naga_ganesan [sMTP:naga_ganesan] skrev 25. mai 2001

19:50:

> Appreciations for any references that Europe borrowed idea of grammar

> from India. Didn't Latin and Greek have grammars prior to Europe's

> colonial contact with India?

 

Latin and Greek grammar goes back to Antiquity, so Europe has its own

grammatical tradition. But the Paninian tradition is in an entirely

different universe, far more advanced as scholarly thinking. That is why

European linguists practically grovel in front of Panini's feet on festive

occasions. Panini's grammar is one of the great intellectual monuments of

mankind, far outshining anything of the kind produced in the Ancient West.

Unfortunately, India's etymological tradition is not held in the same

esteem. From a modern linguistic point of view, it can probably be

described as a total miss. Which is why we sometimes get funny etymological

debates on Indology when two traditions that cannot be united, collide.

 

Lars Martin Fosse

 

 

Dr. art. Lars Martin Fosse

Haugerudvn. 76, Leil. 114,

0674 Oslo

Norway

Phone: +47 22 32 12 19

Mobile phone: +47 90 91 91 45

Fax 1: +47 22 32 12 19

Fax 2: +47 85 02 12 50 (InFax)

Email: lmfosse