I was a little surprised to learn that Sanskrit fits the bill to become a computer language. Apparently, Forbes in 1987 claimed to have reported (or may have researched and produced a report) that Sanskrit is very suitable to use in computer (as a programming language?) because of its perfect syntax. Interestingly, Sanskrit has very little room for error as well. Well, I am not a linguistics or syntax expert, but this amazes me. How could a language so very perfect in grammatical sense become so obsolete? That too, a language originated and well used in a huge country (with huge population) went on to become obsolete! Well, the more quoted reasoning is that, the language and learning itself was restricted to the elite class in the earlier Indian society. Whatever be the past, there is scope for redemption now, then!
Now, I chanced upon to see another piece of report on Sanskrit and its usability on computer. This time, it is from none other than NASA. This report seconds, Forbes claim. Nasa’s study was mainly from the feasibility of using Sanskrit in artificial intelligence (AI). According to a Nasa researcher [1,2],
“In ancient India the intention to discover truth was so consuming, that in the process, they discovered perhaps the most perfect tool for fulfilling such a search that the world has ever known — the Sanskrit language. There is at least one language, Sanskrit, which for the duration of almost 1000 years was a living spoken language with a considerable literature of its own. Besides works of literary value, there was a long philosophical and grammatical tradition that has continued to exist with undiminished vigor until the present century. Among the accomplishments of the grammarians can be reckoned a method for paraphrasing Sanskrit in a manner that is identical not only in essence but in form with current work in Artificial Intelligence. This article demonstrates that a natural language can serve as an artificial language also, and that much work in AI has been reinventing a wheel millennia old.
The discovery is of monumental significance. It is mind-boggling to consider that we have available to us a language which has been spoken for 4-7000 years that appears to be in every respect a perfect language designed for enlightened communication. But the most stunning aspect of the discovery is this: NASA the most advanced research center in the world for cutting edge technology has discovered that Sanskrit, the world’s oldest spiritual language is the only unambiguous spoken language on the planet. Considering Sanskrit’s status as a spiritual language, a further implication of this discovery is that the age old dichotomy between religion and science is an entirely unjustified one. It is also relevant to note that in the last decade physicists have begun to comment on the striking similarities between their own discoveries and the discoveries made thousands of years ago in India which went on to form the basis of most Eastern religions.
OK, then, what makes a spoken language suitable as a programming language. Does it mean that a language so perfect in grammar make it as a perfect candidate in computer parlance. In loose term, this make sense, since the syntax and semantic description can be defined a priori. After all, computer is a dummy box! But the truth could be a little deeper. Anyway, I cant wait to understand a little bit of those rationale behind the suitability of a good computer language.
[1]http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Sanskrit.htm
[2]http://www.americansanskrit.com
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April 18, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Anal Kumar ( अनल कुमार )
When Mr. Rick Briggs published his research during the year 1980 in NASA that Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer then the wheels geared in this direction.
Further research started in India also. This study requires knowledge of both the disciplines, i.e. Sanskrit (linguists) & Computer.
Some new disciplines are evolved from the study as computational linguists & language engineering.The research in area reached up to AI(artificial intelligence).
The work is going on different level, as personal level, research level etc. The software industries are doing this work on commercial level on the other hand the institutions like IITs, NITs are doing it on research level as a part of their personal interest.
But, these efforts on different level, should have somewhere one common platform so that the outcome would be uniform, consistent & comprehensive.
As far as current status is concerned the study is under process, it is not yet reached the final stage.
There are some vital issues making obstruction in getting final stage.
These issues are -
1. Transliteration, 2. Translation & 3. Voice recognition.
Still faithful and comprehensive solution to these issues not achieved. All of these issues deadly required sincere cooperation from the linguists.
Above paper is read by Shripad Deshmukh, Jamnagar(Gujarat) in the 44th all-India oriental conference, 2008 (28-30 July) held at Kurukshetra-University, Kurukshetra(Haryana).
* For more detail you can contact with Shripad Deshmukh,Jamnagar(Gujarat).
April 18, 2009 at 5:17 pm
ratnuu
Thanks Anal Kumar for the comments and also for providing the leads. Will try to touch base with him
Best,
R
June 6, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Anal Kumar
NASA looking at Sanskrit as a possible computer language
NASA
researcher, Rick Briggs has written:
“In ancient India the intention to discover truth was so consuming, that in the process, they discovered perhaps the most perfect tool for fulfilling such a search that the world has ever known — the Sanskrit language. There is at least one language, Sanskrit, which for the duration of almost 1000 years was a living spoken language with a considerable literature of its own. Besides works of literary value, there was a long philosophical and grammatical tradition that has continued to exist with undiminished vigor until the present century. Among the accomplishments of the grammarians can be reckoned a method for paraphrasing Sanskrit in a manner that is identical not only in essence but in form with current work in Artificial Intelligence. This article demonstrates that a natural language can serve as an artificial language also and ,
that much work in AI has been reinventing a wheel millennia old.The discovery is of monumental significance. It is mind-boggling to consider that we have available
to us a language which has been spoken for 4-7000 years that appears to be in every respect a perfect language designed for enlightened communication. But the most stunning aspect of the discovery is this: NASA the most advanced research center in the world for cutting edge technology has discovered that Sanskrit, the world’s oldest spiritual language is the only unambiguous spoken language on the planet. Considering Sanskrit’s status as a spiritual language, a further implication of this discovery is that the age old dichotomy between religion and science is an entirely unjustified one. It is also relevant to note that in the last decade physicists have begun to comment on the striking similarities between
their own discoveries and the discoveries made thousands of years ago in India which went on to form the basis of most Eastern religions.
Why has Sanskrit endured? Fundamentally it generates clarity and inspiration. And that clarity and inspiration is directly responsible for a brilliance of creative expression such as the world has rarely seen. Another hope for the return of Sanskrit lies in computers. Sanskrit and computers are a perfect fit. The precision play of Sanskrit with computer tools will awaken the capacity in human beings to utilize their innate higher mental faculty with a momentum that would inevitably transform the world. In fact the mere learning of Sanskrit by large numbers of people in itself represents a quantum leap in consciousness, not to mention the rich endowment it will provide in the arena of future communication.”
Anal Kumar
(अनल कुमार)Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 Patiala
January 22, 2011 at 12:46 pm
anoop
As proud as an Indian I am, I feel honored and happy to hear about our great culture. But there are many factors which we must remember before we make a claim or speak to a wider audience.
The claim above unfortunately is one of those which are not true or based on actual facts.
First of all, Computer language and Natural Language are entirely 2 different things. While natural language is a communication medium consisting of sentences and gestures, they are highly complex and sophisticated. While computer languages are machine instructions in 0s and 1s. If you are exposed to atleast a small section of programming, you will know that even an “if” condition in C is actually instructions overlayed.
Well, that was the technical jargon.
Lets now talk about the source of these information.
NASA has never claimed such things ever. There is no credible, reliable source which suggests that NASA has looked into Sanskrit as computer language. (That is not NASA’s job).All these started with as a wild imagination in someone’s head. I know people are getting hurt while reading this, so do I. But its always better to correct ourselves.
Natural Language Processing has many fields to it, but the final frontier is “parsing”. There is no specific human language specific NLP program other than character recognition. There English is widely used as its more demographic and popular. So much investment is done into that.
Now if anyone with a credible source like Wikipedia, nature magazine or Scientific Americal can challenge these.
About me: A lot many years researching in computers for a world No1 MNC in computers.
March 7, 2011 at 9:14 am
sugendha
good
July 14, 2011 at 4:37 am
Prathyush
I think the usability of sanskrit in computer should not remain as a hope or a blender thought of poor brain , it can be fulfilled by taking it as a challenge and may be an ever valuable gift that one in 21 sentury can given to sanskrit , as one of the oldest language in the world which is not a speaking language even in a single village in india but was spoken for a long period of more than 1000 years.Good wishes.I think the usability of sanskrit in computer should not remain as a hope or a blender thought of poor brain , it can be fulfilled by taking it as a challenge and may be an ever valuable gift that one in 21 sentury can given to sanskrit , as one of the oldest language in the world which is not a speaking language even in a single village in india but was spoken for a long period of more than 1000 years.Good wishes.
January 19, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Dirk D. Anderson
I have just read Rick Briggs article and have it before me.
Another one some might find interesting is: “Sanskrit Studies as a Foundation for Computational Linguistics” by Nicholas Ostler. I found it delightful for the Historical Background it provided.
Now for the practical implications. I’m skeptical, seems a certain leap of faith is required; that, indeed someday might happen but not in my lifetime.
These Articles are more suitable for the insights they offer to those interested in Sanskrit, than making the “2001 A Space Odyssey” HAL Computer communicate (‘…stop Dave, I’m afraid…’)
However, it is interesting none-the-less.
February 17, 2012 at 5:28 am
Raghavendra.T.R
Nice to hear this.Being a fan of sanskrit I’m very happy to here this.Can I have some sanskrit groups to which I can join??