Jaina Philosophy of Language

SR No.: 001601
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 168
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, & Language
File Size: 10 MB

Page 151

Language and Truth : (125). 'some or 'many' 'finite' or 'infinite', 'limited' or 'unlimited' cannot be regarded true or false in absolute sense, hence will come under the category of mixed language.
(9-10) Kala-miśritā and akāla-miśritā (Statements stating indefinite time): Following statements are the examples of statements stating indefinite time: 'Before dawn, to awake a person when we say 'please get up, the day has already begun' or keeping in view the urgency of the things 'to say even at 10 or 11 am. that oh! It is mid-day already' Such types of usage in language are quite in vogue but they are in fact neither 'true 'no' false. They are called mixed language.
Neither True nor False statements
In Prajñāpanā-sūtra some forms of statements are called neither true nor false. In fact, such statements which cannot be verified as true or false fall under the category of 'neither true nor false' (asatya-amṛṣā). The prescriptive statements, for example, are such statements. Prajñāpanāsūtra has enumerated twelve such varieties of languages15.
(1) Amantrāṇi (Statements extending invitation): The statements extending invitation viz. 'Please come to my house' or 'you are invited in my marriage ceremony', are called as amantraṇī. Such type of statements cannot be verified, hence, are out of the category of truth or untruth.
(2) Ajñāpaniya (Commanding Statements): 'Shut the door', 'Switch on the lamp' and the like are examples of commanding statements. Such statements are also beyond verification. Modern logical positivists like A. J. Ayer also categorise such statements as non-verifiable. On the basis of linguistic analysis of moral statements, he has proved that in the form of acceptance and negation, such statements are not different from prescriptive statements, hence are neither true nor falsehood.
(3) Yacaniya (Statements making request): 'Please give me some thing' and the like statements are beyond the category of truth or false.
(4) Prcchaniya (Statements asking questions): 'Would you please tell me the meaning of this verse?' or 'where does this road go?