We have read the story of the Tower of Babel in the Bible. The legend was invented to explain the languages spoken in the various parts of the world. Although there is evidence yet of a single common origin of all the languages of the world, the study of comparative philology has revealed that the languages can be grouped into certain families. One such family is the Aryan or Indo-European group of languages. Both Sanskrit and English belong to this group.
The English came to India as strangers. It was beyond the imagination of the Indians that the people far away beyond the seas spoke a tongue so close to the language of their own. The impact of the two cultures brought into to lime-light a new revelation, a discovery of the strange similarities between the two languages, English and Sanskrit, the latter being the root of almost all the languages of India.
The researches carried out by the scholars and Indologists have thrown a flood of light on this aspect of comparative philology. The story of the unveiling of this mystery, which had for quite some time, shrouded the link between the two languages, is not only revealing but also quite entertaining.
Whatever research work has been done so far, is but a scratch on the surface. Vast materials are still awaiting the probing hands of researchers who are trying to unearth the hard core of truth.
Sound harmony of some English and Sanskrit words inspired me to collect more and more similar words that have been listed in this booklet. It is my game and pastime. The list, however, is only illustrative and not exhaustive. It is my theory that the English and Sanskrit words which almost echo the same sound and very often convey the same or similar meaning, might perhaps share a common heritage. I expect the answer from the philologists who are the right persons to point out which of the sound identities are just accidental and which of them are due to the common origin of the words.
I shall feel rewarded if this humble attempt to compare words of different languages can bring joy to the readers who believe in the brotherhood of nations. Comparative studies of languages can certainly play a vital role in promoting good-will and understanding among the nations, to usher a new era, when.
The war drum will be throbbed no longer, And the battle-flags will be furled, In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world."
DISTRIBUTION OF LANGUAGES.
The languages spoken in the different parts of the world come under the following broad groups :-
(1) Indo European.
(2) Semitic.
(3) Turanian.
(4) Japanese-Korean.
(5) Malayo-Polynesian.
(6) African Negro.
(7) American Indian, etc., etc., etc.
It is quite natural that similarities should exist between the languages due to social intercourse of the people through travels, trade, commerce, wars, migration, colonisation, explo-ration, conquests and a variety of other reasons. However, it must be understood that the scope of this social intercourse was very very limited in the past as the natural barriers and boundaries offered great obstacles. Travels were difficult and costly, roads and travel corridors were few, modes of transport were far less efficient and people were less mobile. Journeys were less frequent in those days, voyages took more time and travel hazards were greater. That explains little impact of language of one group or category on another. Even then there are little bits of similarities between languages of different groups. But great similarities do exist between the languages within the same category, inspite of geographical, natural and other barriers and despite distances. In course of time people forgot the common origin of their languages, by living in isolation, until the scholars and philologists appeared on the scene.
The purpose of this book is to discuss the similarities between English and Sanskrit languages. Both these languages belong to the Indo-European group and were derived from a common stock. The bulk of the English words came from Latin and German as most of the Indian languages were derived from Sanskrit. In the opinion of the scholars all these languages, Sanskrit, Latin and German have a common origin.
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