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Language and Script : (21) the process of thinking takes place in language and not otherwise. As such, barring sensation and self-realisation, all cognitive behaviours are based on language. Similarly, the mati-jñāna of the Jainas is also to some extent, related with language.
The above analysis shows that amongst the five-types of knowledge namely Mati (Sensory knowledge), Śruta (Scriptural knowledge), Avadhi (Clairvoyance), Manahparyaya (Telepathy) and Kevala (Omniscience), mati-jñāna is partly and the śruta-jñāna is wholly related with language. While avadhi, manaḥparyaya and kevala as forms of direct self-realisation are not related with language. In mati-jñāna, only the Vyañjanāvagraha (Indistinct apprehension) and the Arthāvagraha (Apprehension) are not related with language. The rest ihā, apāya, and dhāraņā are all indirectly related with language because they involve doubt, thinking and reflexion which are not possible without language. According to modern psychologists also thinking is only non-manifest languagebehaviour. It can therefore be said that in Jaina philosophy language and thought are necessarily related to each other. Without language, thought and reflexion are not possible. Types of Language
Generally, all the sound-signals, body-signals and other type of signals which communicate ones feelings and thoughts to the listener or the seer and through which the listener or the seer comprehend the meaning, are called language. In the Jaina tradition, the linguistic knowledge is known as Sruta. Defining Sruta-jñāna Jaina masters maintain 'when from one type of knowledge (sense-cognition) we get another type of knowledge (perception of meaning), it is called śruta-jñāna." For example, by hearing the word 'cow' we comprehend the meaning of a living-being named 'cow'. The same is the characteristic of language. Language/scripture is of two types -(i) akşara-śruta (alphabetically originated scriptures) and anakṣara-śruta (non-alphabetically originated scriptures) "2. Sound and script symbols associated with vowels and consonants come under akşara-śruta whereas audible unclear sounds devoid of vowels and consonants along with visual symbolic gestures come under anakşara-śruta. The Jainācāryas have also distinguished between two types of word-cognition - (i) Bhāṣātmaka (linguistic) and
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