10

Thinking about Language

Question I:

This text is written in an old-fashioned style, for it reports an incident more than two millennia old. Look for the following words and phrases in the text, and try to rephrase them in more current language, based on how you understand them.

•      give thee medicine for thy child

•      Pray tell me

•      Kisa repaired to the Buddha

•      there was no house but someone had died in it

•      Kinsmen

•      M ark!

Answer 1:

>     Give you medicine for your child.

>     Please tell me.

>     Kisa went to the Buddha.

>     There was no single house that had not lost a person.

>     Kith and Kin.

>     Notice/  note/listen.

Question II:

You know that we can combine sentences using words like and, or, but,yet and then. But sometimes no such word seems appropria te. In such a case we can use a semicolon (;) or a dash (-) to combine two clauses.

She has no interest in music; I doubt she will become a singer like her mother.

The second clause here gives the speaker's opinion on the first clause.

Here is a sentence from the text that uses semicolons to combine clauses. Break up the sentence into three simple sentences. Can you then say which has a better rhythm when you read it, the single sentence using semicolons, or the three simple sentences?

For there is not any means by which those who have been born can avoid dying; after reaching old age there is death; of such a nature are living beings.

Answer II:

These sentences can be written as under :

>     For there is not any means by which those who have been born can avoid dying.

>     After reaching an old age there is death.

> All living beings are endowed with such a nature.