9 ways to make yourself fluent in Sanskrit
Sanskrit or saṃskṛta as it is known in the written language means, “adorned, cultivated, purified”. The Deva-Vani language (‘Deva’ Gods – ‘Vani’ language) thought to have been composed by Lord Brahma, was passed on to the Rishis (sages) living in celestial abodes, who then communicated the same to their earthly disciples, from where it spread on earth. The written form of the language can be traced back to the 2nd millennium BCE, when the Rig Veda, a collection of sacred hymns, is thought to have been written after being passed down orally for centuries and preserved verbally in the Guru-Disciple relationship. The flamboyance of the text reflects the purity of this version (Vedic period, 1500–500 BCE) of Sanskrit.
Let's now see the 9 ways to make your self fluent in Sanskrit
Sanskrit is a popular yet tricky language to master. It has a rich history and requires immense dedication and effort. Therefore, you should incorporate a few sneaky tips when learning the language. Given below are 9 tips to help you attain fluency in Sanskrit:
- Set realistic goals and study consistently, but don’t overdo it. Determine your own learning style, which will assist you in mastering the language. Learn to prioritise as well. If you want to learn Sanskrit for chanting, start with spoken Sanskrit.
- Improve your listening abilities by using as many internet resources as possible, such as audio snippets and audiobooks, to mention a few. You should also make the most of YouTube by watching Sanskrit channels.
- To improve your pronunciation, read aloud. You may also use HelloTalk, Tandem, or iTalki to locate a conversation partner with whom to practise speaking and receive feedback.
- It is critical to realise that self-studying is NOT for everyone. So don’t lose motivation, and don’t be afraid to experiment and make errors. We’re all guilty of it. Why let that discourage?
- Only when you’re just starting out, you can translate Sanskrit words into English. As you develop, actively move away from it and avoid writing in your thoughts.
- For flashcards, use Spaced Repetition System applications such as Anki and Memrise. Learn fundamental phrases, connector words, and conversation starters to help you communicate and express yourself in shorter sentences.
- Keep a record of new phrases that will help you develop your first discussion, rather than merely fascinating or difficult terms. Keep a Sanskrit dictionary accessible, and begin by reading children’s storybooks. Children’s stories might be an excellent location to begin learning to read in Sanskrit. Children’s and young adult stories are inclined to employ simpler language and more plain themes than adult books.
- Choose widely used words to begin a discussion rather than more difficult ones that are rarely used.
- Grammar is an essential, one-of-a-kind feature of each language that defines the rules for speaking and writing in that language. It is the spirit of a language, thus it is not simple to master. As a result, starting with a language’s grammar is never a smart choice if you want to learn a language quicker.
Finally,
The magnanimity of the honorific language is evident with 250 words available to describe rainfall, 67 words to describe water, and 65 words to describe the earth, among other descriptions. It is also interesting to note that despite numerous different the sub-castes of Hinduism, and differences in their dialect, race, creed and rank, Sanskrit is collectively considered and accepted as the only sacred language giving rise to the only available sacred literature by all, even though India has a repository of 5000 spoken languages.
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