SV: [Y-Indology] Site for learning Sanskrit through self-study

[Guest guest]

I might also recommend Maurer's introduction to Sanskrit. It is

expensive, but if there ever is a book that can teach you Skt without a

teacher, this is the one!

 

Lars Martin Fosse

 

> -----Opprinnelig melding-----

> Fra: jiva das [sadavij]

> Sendt: 24. oktober 2002 19:25

> Til: INDOLOGY

> Emne: Re: [Y-Indology] Site for learning Sanskrit through self-study

>

>

> Better is the EUP "Teach yourself Sanskrit" by

> Coulson. There is a key to the exercises, and not a

> misprint in the book, and it takes you up to Kalidasa

> in a year or so.

>

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> indology

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>

>

> Your use of is subject to

 

[Guest guest]

On Friday 25 October 2002 03:08 am, Lars Martin Fosse wrote:

> I might also recommend Maurer's introduction to Sanskrit. It is

> expensive, but if there ever is a book that can teach you Skt without a

> teacher, this is the one!

 

I want to second the recommendation of Maurer's book. Of the various texts

I've looked at (and attempted to learn from), his is the most clear and

effective, even enjoyable. The approach is "gentle" compared to most others,

allowing the student to immediately begin working on simple sentences and

grammatical concepts. It seems like an excellent text for today's students,

and especially those learning through self-study.

 

I initially found Coulson's book to be a bit too technical in approach (and

terminology). For example, after introducing devanAgarI, the student's first

exposure to the language itself in chapter two is by way of verb classes,

guNa/vRddhi, and sandhi. Certain asides here seem to complicate matters

further and would have been better offered as footnotes. (Most notably the

discussion of guNa as the "normal grade" on the second and third pages of

chapter two (that is, almost immediately), which is hard to digest and

completely non-essential to the beginning student). And yes, there are some

immediate typographical errors, where they'll be most difficult for the new

student to detect (e.g. on page 28 -- the third page of the second chapter --

"shuch" is written in devanagari as "shruchR", and on page 29 "likh" as

"likha"). However, after this initially rocky start, it does become easier

to use, say around chapters 4 or 5. But he drops the use of devanAgarI after

the fifth chapter, except in exercises, so the student may not get enough

practice in its use. Overall it's a decent book, but its overly technical

approach and its deficiencies may be off-putting to many beginning students.

 

As Lars pointed out, Maurer's book is unfortunately quite expensive, but

definitely worth it (or worth checking out from your local university).

Compared to anything else I've seen it makes Sanskrit a truly enjoyable

experience.

 

John Landahl

john

http://landahl.org/john

[Guest guest]

Maurer's Sanskrit text does not appear to be one of

the six million volumes at the University of Toronto.

More bibliographic information would be helpful.

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Mr. Lars:

 

Does this book by Maurer use the Devanagari script and teach Paninian

grammar?

 

Thanks.

 

Chetan PAndey

 

INDOLOGY, "Lars Martin Fosse" <lmfosse@o...> wrote:

> I might also recommend Maurer's introduction to Sanskrit. It is

> expensive, but if there ever is a book that can teach you Skt

without a

> teacher, this is the one!

>

> Lars Martin Fosse

>

> > -----Opprinnelig melding-----

> > Fra: jiva das [sadavij]

> > Sendt: 24. oktober 2002 19:25

> > Til: INDOLOGY

> > Emne: Re: [Y-Indology] Site for learning Sanskrit through self-

study

> >

> >

> > Better is the EUP "Teach yourself Sanskrit" by

> > Coulson. There is a key to the exercises, and not a

> > misprint in the book, and it takes you up to Kalidasa

> > in a year or so.

> >

> > ____________

> > ________

> > Post your free ad now! http://personals..ca

> >

> >

> > ------------------------ Sponsor

> > ---------------------~--> Sell a Home for Top $

> > http://us.click./RrPZMC/jTm> EAA/jd3IAA/x3XolB/TM

> >

> >

> > -----------------------------

> > -------~->

> >

> >

> > indology-

> >

> >

> >

> > Your use of is subject to

>