Thank you taryal. In that case i’m quite comfortable with switching around meanings, but i’m starting to doubt if it is the right approach. As mentioned then it would become “many characteristics of nature” instead of just 3.
To make the point clearer, if we give a name to each of the different meanings of anicca, then there will be more than 3 words to describe nature! Not sure if that’s what they intended for when they try to name it “tilakkhana”, I would interpret that they did intend for 3 characteristics.
An interesting point to note is that in Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta – Distortion Timeline
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- The TipiṭakaCommentary Paṭisambhidāmaggapoints out (in the “Vipassanākathā” section) that the following words can be used to represent “anicca” nature: Palokatoti (subject to destruction), Calatoti(unsteady/shaky), Pabhaṅgutoti(breakable), Vipariṇāmadhammatoti(subject to unexpected change), Vibhavatoti (tendency to wear out), Saṅkhatatoti (prepared – by the mind), Maraṇadhammatoti (subject to inevitable death), Addhuvatoti(not permanent).
These words all point towards the meaning of “deterioration”, not so much on “vexation” or “leading to more suffering in the future”. Although these other meanings can be derived. Here I would then infer that the above synonyms should be taken as the root meaning of anicca.
However anatta here has 2 rather distinct meanings:
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Paratoti (not belonging to oneself), Rittatoti (devoid of value/meaningless), Tucchatoti (to be looked down upon), Suññatoti(devoid of anything meaningful), Asārakatoti (devoid of anything useful.) The translation of “anatta” as “no-self” is also only close to Paratoti (not belonging to oneself) in the above list.
Here I would be wrong in saying that there is a root meaning as there are 2 rather distinct ones, on ownership and on value. Or it is also possible that the word anatta itself is supposed to capture both, instead of “either or”. I am uncertain about that too as mentioned with my chinese example, but I cannot rule out that possibility still.