An Analysis of Phonological System of Pāli Language

Abstract

            Pāli, an ancient language closely relevant to Sanskrit, was used to write many important Buddhist canonical texts. The phonological system of Pāli has been the subject of keen interest in the domains of Pāli linguistics. Historically, Pāli is thought to have developed from an earlier language called Magadhi Prakrit, which was spoken in ancient India. It was the language of the Buddhist scriptures and is still used as a liturgical language in Theravada Buddhist countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Laos. Pāli phonology is an important aspect of learning Pāli for several reasons for example correct pronunciation of Pāli words, comprehension, chanting and reciting so on. Another important aspect of Pāli phonology is its prosody. Pāli has a system of pitch accents, which are used to distinguish between different meanings of words. Thus, Pāli phonology is an important aspect of learning Pāli for anyone who wishes to understand Pāli texts, read and write the language, or participate in chanting and recitation. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to present a clear conception of the phonological system of the Pāli language.