Sandhi in the Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā vaggas 1 – 10

Abstract

Abstract

Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā composed in the 10th century before the oldest surviving Pali grammar, Kaccāyanavyākarana, composed around the 16th century, raising suspicion of how Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā, which was composed in an era where grammar is not yet established, performed sandhi.

Sandhi or euphonic change is joining two sounds together. This article details sandhi in vaggas 1 - 10 of the Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā on what the outcome of sandhi when two sounds joined. Is it possible to determine the exact pattern and outcome of sandhi ?. The study concluded that Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā has a exact pattern of sandhi. When the same word is joined, the outcome is always the same. The most commonly joined word is iti. The most popular method is to delete preceding vowel. Some words, such as iti idāni, have their own method which is to delete i before another method every time. When two vowels of the same organ are joined, the result is a long sound. Adding y sound for easy pronunciation If the following sound is e and the preceding sound is ya (tunādi), i, ī, u (including ū that doesn't find samples as well), e, or o only, or not added.

The pattern of sandhi found in Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā can be used as a basis for sandhi for Pali learner or writer because it has a more defined pattern than grammar texts.

Keywords : Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā, sandhi, euphonic change