Jaina Philosophy of Language

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 49

Language and Script : (23) movements, which are not audible, cannot be called śruta.4. On the contrary, the masters of Digambara tradition hold's that sense-cognition (mati-jñāna) is the cause of akşara-śruta, and as such, knowledge derived from both audio and visual signals should also be included in śrutajñāna. To my mind this second opinion seems to be more logical because the written language is visual, and not audible, and we get its meaning by seeing (reading) it. Pt. Bechardasji has also accepted the same view. He writes, “In my opinion, if the word 'śruta' is taken in a wider connotation, there should be no objection in including both audio and visual signals alongwith bodily movements in śruta-jñāna' 16 If we regard language as the expression of feelings and thoughts through sound signals, bodily movements and other kinds of symbols, then we must include all the forms of symbolic expressions in the fold of language and regard them the different forms of linguistic expressions. Jaina philosophers, on this basis, have classified the language as under:
Bhāṣā (language)
Akşarātmaka (Alphabetical)
Anaksarātmaka (Non-alphabetical)
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Śravya (Pronunciated) Drśya (Written)
Śravya (Audible)
Śravyetara (other than audible)
Types of Akşarātmaka-bhāṣā (Alphabetical Language) The language consisting of vowel and consonant is alphabetical language. This is of two types viz. (i) Maukhika/Śravya (audible), and (ii) Likhita/ Dịśya (visible). Almost all the languages and dialects of the world are covered under these two categories. "Ordinarily all the developed languages of human beings are alphabetical. Alphabetical language is the language made of meaningful words, terms and sentences that have vowels and consonants. According to the masters of the Jainism such language capability is formed only in rational five-sensed beings (sanjñipañcendriya) or human beings and other developed beings. The alphabetical language is classified by Jainas as ārya and anārya (civilised and uncivilised). Again, the Aryan languages, which are of Indian origin, are divided in the following eighteen languages:" Three Karņāta languages (languages spoken in Karņāta region)