What is the script for Sanskrit ?
29 Sep 2014 21:22
Vishwas G
New MemberI used to think, they are same as Hindi. But recently i noticed, a book in Kannada too uses sanskrit in it’s own “kannada” script. So, doesn’t sanskrit have any particular script ? Does that mean, i can write sanskrit using english alphabet symbols too ?
Thank you.
Vishwas
"Sakshi"
ModeratorAs far as I know. Sanskrit is not easy as english.
Pronunciation, Writting and learning sanskrit grammar is too difficult.
Vishwas G
New MemberAs far as I know. Sanskrit is not easy as english.
Pronunciation, Writting and learning sanskrit grammar is too difficult.
hi! Sakshi.
Well that was not my question actually. I want to know, from someone who knows sanskrit better, what alphabets are used for writing it ? Is it always hindi alphabets, or hindi and kannada or can it be written using any alphabet ?
Vishwas
titan
MemberThere was an original script but these days, it is done in Hindi (Devanagari) script with additional symbols for things that are specific to Sanskrit.
Vishwas G
New MemberOk. I see. thanks.
Vishwas
gvshwnth
Moderator@Viswhas,
Theoretically, any language can be written in any script
Efficeincy is of course another matter.
I have seen Sanskrit written in Roman script too, but there is no uniformity in the way it is spelled.
You will see plenty of Hindi written in Roman script in this forum without any consistent way to spell the words.
At my home, my parents wrote Tamil in Malayaalam script.
My grandparents wrote Sanskrit Shlokas in Malayaalam script.
They were not familiar with Devanagari Script.
Today Sanskrit is officially written in Devnaagari script but as you pointed out, it can be written without any problems in Kannada script too.
Only Tamil script will have serious problems with the writing of Sanskrit as it does not contain alphabets for several common Sanskrit consonants.
But if you know Sanskrit, you can still manage to read it when written in Tamil even with its inadequate alphabet list
But if you are encountering a Sanskrit word for the first time, you run the risk of mispronouncing it, if you read it in the Tamil script.
Regards
GV
"Sakshi"
Moderator@VG
.
Tvameva Maata Cha Pitaa Tvameva.
.
Tvameva Bandhu Cha Sakhaa Tvameva.
.
Tvameva Vidyaa Dravinam Tvameva.
.
Tvameva Sarvam Mam Deva Deva.
.
.
This is “sanskrit shlok” in english font.
Kit13
Member@Sakshi
This is a sanskrit shloka in Roman Script.
Regards,
K.
gvshwnth
Moderator@Sakshi,
You have shown that Sanskrit can be written in the Roman script.
But there is a need for an agreed and settled standard way to spell the words
This system must be unique and precise, and should be able to do full justice to the precision of the Sanskrit language.
Besides English spelling rules (use of capitals) need not be followed at all.
Why have every word beginning with the a capital letter?
I would use only capital C, D, L, N S, T to distinguish between similar sounding consonants.
ch for च Ch for छ
d for द D for ड
t for त T for ट
n for न N ण
ल for l L forळ
s for स sh for श Sh ष
I would also use aa , ee, oo au for आ, ई, ऊ, औ maatraas
If a detailed standard can be agreed upon by consensus, then it would be very convenient to type Sanskrit (or perhaps any Indian regional language) using the roman Script.
My preference for typing the above shloka would be as follows:
tvameva maataa pitaa tvameva
tvameva bandhushcha sakhaa tvameva
tvameva vidyaa draviNam tvameva
tvameva sarvam mama deva deva
I would write your name as saakShee, and my name as vishvanaath
Regards
GV
"Sakshi"
Moderator@GV Sir,
Saakshee is right still we write Sakshi.