user151: When people speaking different languages came from other lands to meditate, did that ever necessitate speaking the language in which they chanted?
Has there ever been a situation where circumstances necessitated conversation in Pali or Sanskrit?

user21010: Yes, though Pali is a "dead language" in the sense that it has no native speakers left to use it, that doesn't mean it can't be used to communicate with others. I remember Professor Gombrich mentioning that it got used to communicate by monks who did not have any other common language.
You can also find examples mentioned in this thread: can people who are pali experts converse in it? in posts by "James the Giant" and "cooran".

151: <p>When people speaking different languages came from other lands to meditate, did that ever necessitate speaking the language in which they chanted?</p>

<p>Has there ever been a situation where circumstances necessitated conversation in Pali or Sanskrit?</p>
 21010: <p>Yes, though Pali is a &quot;dead language&quot; in the sense that it has no native speakers left to use it, that doesn't mean it can't be used to communicate with others. I remember Professor Gombrich mentioning that it got used to communicate by monks who did not have any other common language.</p>
<p>You can also find examples mentioned in this thread: <a href="https://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?t=16946" rel="nofollow noreferrer">can people who are pali experts converse in it?</a> in posts by &quot;James the Giant&quot; and &quot;cooran&quot;.</p>
