This biannual learning unit is being organized in 2026-2027
Teacher(s)
Language
French
> English-friendly
> English-friendly
Prerequisites
None.
Main themes
An introduction to Sanskrit, the classical language of Brahmanical and Buddhist India and Indianised Asia.
The lecture course introduces students gradually and systematically to the grammar of the language, illustrated by excerpts from original texts, which are analysed, translated and contextualised. The supervised exercises consist of translating Sanskrit texts of simple and medium difficulty.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 | translate, in using the appropriate working tools (grammars, dictionaries, etc.), Sanskrit texts of simple and medium difficulty; |
| 2 | grammaticaly analyse the elements of these texts; |
| 3 | understand and contextualize these texts from a literary, historical, religious or philosophical point of view. |
Content
Alternating with course LGLOR1683, this course is taught to two separate groups of students according to their level.
For level 1 (beginners), the course takes a progressive and systematic approach to writing, phonetics, morphology (principles of derivation and composition, declensions, conjugation) and syntax, illustrated by short excerpts from simple, classical or epic, Sanskrit texts, culturally contextualised.
For level 2 (continuing students), the course introduces to the reading of texts in epic (Mahābhārata, Bhagavadgītā, Rāmāyaṇa, purāṇas) or classical (narrative prose, kāvya, didactic prose of the sūtras or śāstras) Sanskrit of medium difficulty. The lectured texts, chosen for their exemplary value, are introduced and commented on from a literary, historical, (Hindu or Buddhist) religious or philosophical, and linguistic point of view, serving in particular to clarify various points of Sanskrit grammar.
For level 1 (beginners), the course takes a progressive and systematic approach to writing, phonetics, morphology (principles of derivation and composition, declensions, conjugation) and syntax, illustrated by short excerpts from simple, classical or epic, Sanskrit texts, culturally contextualised.
For level 2 (continuing students), the course introduces to the reading of texts in epic (Mahābhārata, Bhagavadgītā, Rāmāyaṇa, purāṇas) or classical (narrative prose, kāvya, didactic prose of the sūtras or śāstras) Sanskrit of medium difficulty. The lectured texts, chosen for their exemplary value, are introduced and commented on from a literary, historical, (Hindu or Buddhist) religious or philosophical, and linguistic point of view, serving in particular to clarify various points of Sanskrit grammar.
Teaching methods
Lecture with exercises consisting of students preparing translations of the texts read using the appropriate working tools (grammars, dictionaries, etc.).
Evaluation methods
Oral examination: analytical translation and commentary of two short extracts from the texts studied.
Other information
The lectured Sanskrit texts are provided to the students in pdf and paper form.
Online resources
https://michaelmeyer.fr/sanskrit
https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de
https://sanskrit.inria.fr/DICO/index.en.html
https://www.searchable-sanskrit-library.org/CM-LIBRARY-ROOT/CM-LIBRARY-MAIN.php
https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de
https://sanskrit.inria.fr/DICO/index.en.html
https://www.searchable-sanskrit-library.org/CM-LIBRARY-ROOT/CM-LIBRARY-MAIN.php
Bibliography
• Filliozat, P.-S. 1992 (3e ed. 2010), Le sanskrit, Paris : PUF, Que sais-je ? 1416.
https://www.academia.edu/38552123/FILLIOZAT_-_Le_sanskrit
• Renou, L. 1946, Grammaire sanskrite élémentaire, Paris : A. Maisonneuve.
https://archive.org/details/GrammaireSkrtElemRenou
• Gonda, J. 1997 (3e ed.), Manuel de grammaire élémentaire de la langue sanskrite, trad. R. Rocher, avec addenda,
corrigenda et index par B. Oguibénine, Paris : J. Maisonneuve [1ère ed. 1966, Leiden : Brill].
https://www.academia.edu/38552123/FILLIOZAT_-_Le_sanskrit
• Renou, L. 1946, Grammaire sanskrite élémentaire, Paris : A. Maisonneuve.
https://archive.org/details/GrammaireSkrtElemRenou
• Gonda, J. 1997 (3e ed.), Manuel de grammaire élémentaire de la langue sanskrite, trad. R. Rocher, avec addenda,
corrigenda et index par B. Oguibénine, Paris : J. Maisonneuve [1ère ed. 1966, Leiden : Brill].
Faculty or entity
