Introduction to Basic Spoken Sanskrit and Intermediate Level of Spoken Sanskrit

The knowledge of Sanskrit is very helpful for anyone who is interested in delving into the original texts relating to various subjects from the Indian traditional knowledge systems. This language, however, is often presented as a difficult language to learn for many and moreover as a classical language of the past that is of no special relevance in the contemporary world. Those who have been exposed to it in school often regard it as nothing more than a scoring subject and have little appreciation for the various dimensions of the language. The objective of this course if to give students a taste of Sanskrit as a living language by introducing them to its basic grammatical structures so that they can start understanding simple texts as well as allow them to use it in daily life. It also seeks to give them an understanding and appreciation of the beauty of the different aspects of this language from its sounds to its rich content so that they feel enthused enough to delve further into it.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: This is a language course and therefore it would be relevant for students from different disciplinary backgrounds of science, technology, computer sciences and humanities and social sciences.

PREREQUISITES: NIL

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Not applicable

COURSE LAYOUT

Week 1 : Introduction: Some Unique characteristics of Sanskrit -Basic introduction of oneself -Simple verbs Daily vocabularyWeek 2 : Introducing different declensions and tenses - 1Week 3 : Introducing different declensions and tenses - 2Week 4 : Practice with various verbs in different moods and tenses Summary of the Sentence structure with different questions
Week 5: Introduction: Some Unique characteristics of Sanskrit,Revision of the main features of Part 1 of Introductionto Basic Spoken Sanskrit,Different verb forms,Daily vocabularyWeek 6,7:Introduction of different declensions in the plural and tenses – 1,Daily Vocabulary,Poetic verses, conversations and storiesWeek 8: Practice with various verbs in different moods and tenses,Summary of the Sentence structures using the plural with different questions
Week 9:Introduction of a few more words ending with consonants and their declensions,An Alternative Conjugation of verbs,Dailyvocabulary,Poetic verses, conversations and storiesWeek 10:Introduction to their different declensions in singular, dual and plural,New verb forms,Daily Vocabulary,Poetic verses, conversationsand storiesWeek 11:Introduction to Sandhi,Vowel with vowel / Vowel with consonant / Consonant with consonant / Aspirant with vowel or consonant,Poeticverse, reading and comprehension, conversationsWeek 12:Practice with a variety of word endings, various verbs in different moods and tenses,Summary of the Sentence structures usingthe plural with different questions