Yadanabon University Research Journal 2016, Vol. 7, No. 1                                                                     1 
                          
                               The Role of Sanskrit in The Development of The Myanmar Language 
                                                                                            
                                                                           Thant Thant Nwe  
                                                                                            
                                                                                    Abstract 
                                   Foreign languages come into contavt with the mother tongue for various reasons. Sanskrit is one 
                                   of  the  foreign  languages  which  have  infiltrated  the  Myanmar  language.  Sanskrit-derived 
                                   Myanmar vocabulary includes words which depict concrete materials, express abstract ideas, 
                                   and personal names. There are a considerable number of such kinds of vocabulary. The scope in 
                                   which such words are used is also wide. In this paper, Sanskrit-derived Myanmar vocabulary is 
                                   studied and presented according to the fields in which they are used. By observing the number 
                                   of  words used in each field, we can speculate the subjects that Myanmar people have been 
                                   interested in and studied. As Sanskrit vocabulary has been linguistically modified to adapt to the 
                                   Myanmar language, we can also learn about the process of change from the sounds of Sanskrit 
                                   to those of the Myanmar language. 
                                   Key words: Sanskrit, Myanmar, words, consonantal changes, vowel changes. 
                                                                                            
                                                                                 Introduction 
                                   Every human being in the world has one language. Since the members of the speech 
                         community communicate with each other, whether the population is small or large in an ethnic 
                         group or a society,  a  language  is  necessary  for  communication.  Besides,  according  to  the 
                         nature  of  language,  there  is  no  language  that  stands  alone  without  blending  with  another 
                         language. As different members of speech communities come to deal with one another and 
                         communicate with one another, there takes place in the influx of one or more foreign languages 
                         into the native language. 
                                   The languages that find way into Myanmar language are Pali, Sanskrit, Mon, English, 
                         Shan, Hindi, Malay, Arabic, and Chinese, etc. This paper presents the vocabulary of Myanmar 
                         derivatives from the Sanskrit found in Myanmar language. 
                                   When languages are classified according to the language family trees,  the Sanskrit 
                         belongs to the Indo-European family while the Myanmar language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan 
                         language  family.  Though  belonging  to  different  language  families,  the  Sanskrit  that  was 
                         introduced to the Myanmar land became familiar with the Myanmar people of the earlier times. 
                         Naturally, some Sanskrit words were used as loan words in Myanmar language.   
                                   The study of the Sanskrit-derivative Myanmar words reveals a considerable number of 
                         vocabularies on objects, abstract nouns and the personal pronouns. These words are still in use 
                         in  respective  aeras  of  the  Myanmar  people's  environment.  The  Sanskrit-  Myanmar 
                         vocabularies can be found in the usages of animals, trees, minerals, commodities, planets and 
                         astrology,  religious  beliefs,  medicinal  objects,  measurements,  names  of  days  and  months, 
                         names of treatises, names of diseases, etc. 
                                   This paper does not present an exhaustive study of all Sanskrit- derivative Myanmar 
                         words due to the restraints of time, but only the vocabularies reflecting the widespread use of 
                         the  field  in  use.  The  Sanskrit-  derivative  Myanmar  words  are  collected  according  to  their 
                         meanings, and classified as follows: 
                                    
                         (a) Words related to animals
                                 Sanskrit                 Myanmar
                         1. kastūrī / ka?s tū rī /                        gadou: / gә d`o /              
                          musk deer. 
                         2. sióha /-seĩ ha΄ /                          chin dhei. / -tɕhĩ ðe΄ /   
                          lion. 
                                                                          
                         
                            Professor, Dr, Department of Oriental Studies, Yadanabon University 
                 2                                                                     Yadanabon University Research Journal 2016, Vol. 7, No. 1 
                  
                  
                 3. sattva / sa?t wa΄ /                        tha΄ tawa /өa? tә wā /  creature. 
                 (b) Words related to trees 
                 1. kaæāya / kә ɕā ja΄/                  kathe / kә өε/   
                  small tree, the leaves of which have a bitter taste. 
                 2. durālabhā / du rā lә bā /            su la nahpa / sū lā nә phā / 
                  kind of medicinal plant. 
                 3. śephālikā / ɕē phā li kā /             hsei' hpalu: / sheiʔ phә l`u / 
                  shrub related to jasmine bearing sweet-scented white flowers with orange pedicels. 
                 4. karpūra / ka:r pū ra΄/                                pajou' / pә jou΄ /        
                  camphor.
                 5. punarnavā / pu na:r nә wā /                     pajan nawa / pә -jã nә wā / 
                  hogweed.
                 6. vātāma / wā tā maʹ/                                  ba dan / bā -dã / 
                  badum tree. 
                 7. brāhmī / brā mī /                                        bjoun: mwei: / bj`oũ hmw`e / 
                  herb used as a vegetable as well as medicinally. 
                                            
                 8. bhūrjapattra/ bu:r dza΄ pa? ra΄/                   bu. zaba'/ bu΄ zә ba? / 
                  species of birch. 
                 9. ahiphena / a hi phē na΄ /                            bein: / b`eĩ / 
                  poppy.
                 10. liópāka / -leĩ pā ka΄/                               lein mo / -leĩ  m   / 
                  orange. 
                  
                  (c) Words related to minerals
                 1. gandhaka /-gã dә ka΄ /                               kan. / kã΄ / 
                  sulphur. 
                 2. godanta / g`  -dã ta΄/                                go: dan / g    -dã / 
                  gypsum. 
                 3. tuttha / tuʔ tha΄ /                                                dou' hta / douʔ thā / 
                  copper sulphate crystals. 
                 4. padmarāga / paʔd ma rā ga΄ /                    badamja: / bә dә mj  / 
                  ruby. 
                 5. pārada / pā rә da΄ /                                     bada: / bә d  / 
                  mercury. 
                 (d) Words related to commodities
                 1. pustāpattra / puʔs tā paʔ ra΄ /                   parabai' / pә jә baiʔ / 
                  writing tablet made of paper. 
                 2. bÓæī / bri΄ ɕī /                                           boun shou / -boũ  ɕō / 
                  mattress. 
                 3. varti / wa:r t  /                                         badi: / bә d  / 
                  string of beads. 
                 4. śarkarā  / ɕa:r kә rā /                               dhagja: / ðә dz  / 
                  sugar. 
                  (e) Words related to astrology
                 1. kendrakha÷éa  /-kĩ dra΄ -khã da΄ /          kein: khan: / k`eĩ  g`ã / 
                  predestined event. 
                 2. candramāsa  / -tɕã dramā sa΄/           san dara. ma tha. /-sã dә ja΄ mā өa΄/  
                  lunar month. 
                 3. janmakha÷éa /-dzã ma΄-khã da΄ /           samakhan: / sә mә kh`ã / 
                         Yadanabon University Research Journal 2016, Vol. 7, No. 1                                                                     3 
                          
                          (astrol.) planet assigned to one's birthday. 
                         4. yātrā / jā trā /                                             jadaja / jә dә jā / 
                          something done in keeping with an astrologer's advice to avert impending misfortune or to 
                         realise what one wishes. 
                         (f)   Words related to literature   
                         1. kāvya  / kā wja΄/                                        gabja / kә bjā / 
                          poem. 
                         2. kramaśa¬ / krә mә ɕ  /                              ka. macha. / kә mә tɕha΄/  
                          system of learning the Myanmar alphabet by combining each of the thirty three consonants 
                         with the twelve vowels. 
                         3. triko÷a / tri k`  na΄ /                                  tri. gan / tji΄ -gã / 
                          triangle. 
                         4. prayoga / pra΄  y`  ga΄ /                             pja. jou' / pja΄ jouʔ / 
                           example. 
                         5. vigraha / wiʔ gra ha΄ /                           wi. gjou / wi΄ gjō / 
                           explanation of words. 
                         6. visarjanīya / wi΄ sa:r dzә nī ya΄ /           wi. thi' zani / wi΄ õiʔ zә nī / 
                           the symbol placed after the vowels or a devowelized consonant to produce the extra long, 
                         heavy, falling tone.
                         7. śāstra / ɕaʔs tra΄ /                                   sha' tara΄ / ɕaʔ tә ja΄ / 
                           expository treatise.
                         (g) Words related to weaponry 
                         1. éhāla / dā la΄/                                          dain: / da`ĩ / 
                          round shield. 
                         2. paraśu / pә rә ɕu΄ /                                  pahsein / pә -sheĩ / 
                          axe 
                         3. śalyaka / ɕal jә ka΄/                                 than lje' /-өã  hljεʔ / 
                          four-edged dagger which forms part of the Myanmar regalia. 
                         (h) Words related to music
                         1. dhamani / da mә ni΄ /                               doun min: / -doũ m`ĩ / 
                          (obs) kind of wind instrument. 
                         2. vādya / wā dja΄ /                                     pan taja / -pã tә jā / 
                          music; musician. 
                         (i)   Common words
                         1. kÓtajña / kri taʔdz ɲa΄/                             kjei:zu: / tɕ`e z`u / 
                          good  deed for others. 
                         2. caõkrama /-sã kә rә ma΄ /                       zin: gjan / z`ĩ -dzã / 
                          path; corridor; platform. 
                         3. jyā / dzә yā /                                            zaja: / zә y  / 
                          system and order. 
                         4. pariæad / pә ri ɕaʔ /                                  parei' tha'/ pә jeiʔ ɵaʔ / 
                          audience. 
                         5. prasthāna / praʔs thā na΄/                          pja. htan: / pja΄ th`ã / 
                          prescribe. 
                         6. praśna / praʔɕ na΄/                                    pja' thana / pjaʔ ðә nā / 
                          problem. 
                         7. sākæin / sεʔk -ɕeĩ /                                     the' thei / өεʔ өē / 
                          witness 
                         (j)   Words related to measurements
                          Weight
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                 1. kuñci /-kũ si΄/                                            kun: za: / k`ũ  z  / 
                  capacity measure equivalent to sixteen handful. 
                 2. vīśa / wī ɕa΄ /                                             pei' tha / peiʔ өā / 
                  viss. 
                 3. māæa / mā ɕa΄ /                                          ma' / maʔ / 
                     a quarter. 
                 Time 
                 1. saódhyā /-sã djā /                                                 his: za / sh  za / 
                  transition between the four divisions of a twenty four hour day. 
                 2. nāéī / nā dī /                                              naji / nә jī / 
                  (mus.) four beat timing consisting of three chimes of the timing bells followed by a clap of the    
                 bamboo clappers 
                 3. nāéī / nā dī /                                              naji / nā jī / 
                  hour. 
                 4. saó-krānti  /-sã -krã ti΄ /                           thin: gjan / ө`ĩ -dzã / 
                  period of transition from the old to the new year. 
                 5. adhvan / ә -dwã /                                      adun. / ә dũ΄/  
                  length of time. 
                 (k) Words related to beliefs
                 1. graha / grә ha΄ /                              gjou / gjō / 
                  (astrol.) superimposition of the present sun, moon and other planets  
                 on those in one's horoscope. 
                 2. karman / ka:r -mã/                            kjama / tɕә mā / 
                  fate. 
                 3. cakravartin / tɕaʔk ra΄ wa:r -tĩ /        se' kjawadei: / sεʔ tɕә wә d`e / 
                  (Buddhist  scriptures)  sovereign  of  the  four  islands  of  the  universe  and  possessor  of  a 
                 miraculous chariot and wondrous weapons. 
                 4. cakravāéa  / tɕaʔk ra΄ wā da΄ /            se' kja wala / sεʔ tɕā wә lā / 
                  great  circular  barrier  or  sphere  surrounding  the  world,  at  the  centre  of  which  is  a  great 
                 mountain, Mount Meru encircled by four oceans each having a great island or continent, and 
                 having a sun and a moon. 
                 5. preta /  pre ta΄ /                                           pei' ta / peiʔ tā / 
                  (Buddhist scriptures) departed human or celestial being reincarnated as a ghost, goblin, etc in 
                 one of the four states of suffering. 
                 6.bhūmilakæa÷a / bū mi΄ lεʔɕә na΄ /          bu mi.ne' than / bhu mi΄ nεʔ өã / 
                  auspicious ground. 
                 7. vyasta / wjaʔs ta΄ /                                           pja' dhada: / pjaʔ ðә d / 
                  ill-fated day. 
                 8. siddhi / siʔ diʹ /                                            shein: / ɕ`eĩ / 
                  power of becoming invisible. 
                 (l)  Words related to health
                 1. śleṣman / ɕlē ɕә -mã /                                        thalei' / ɵә leiʔ / 
                  phlegm. 
                 2. paṭṭī / paʔ tī /                                              pa' ti: / paʔ t  /
                  bandage. 
                 (m) Words related to names
                 Names of the deities 
                 1. Mahāvināyaka / mә hā wiʹ nā jә ka /       maha pein: ne: / mә hā p`eĩ  n`ɛ / 
                  the name of Hindu deity Ganesa.