Introduction to Prakrit - Softcover

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9780282337360: Introduction to Prakrit

Synopsis

This book is an exploratory introduction to Prakrit, an important group of ancient Indian languages that developed out of Sanskrit. Prakrit was not, however, merely a 'simplified' or 'vulgar' form of Sanskrit, but a distinct group of languages with their own unique grammatical features, literary traditions and socio-historical contexts. The author traces the development of Prakrit through its various stages, from its earliest traces in ancient Indian inscriptions to the highly codified literary Prakrits, demonstrating the diversity of forms that Prakrit took in different regions and periods of time. A key feature of this book is its analysis of the deep-rooted relationship between Prakrit and Sanskrit, with the author providing detailed explanations of how Prakrit was both a continuation of and a departure from its parent language. The book concludes with a thought-provoking examination of the significance of Prakrit within the broader context of Indian linguistic and literary history, demonstrating that Prakrit was not a mere stepping-stone to later developments, but a vibrant and dynamic linguistic phenomenon in its own right.

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