Jaina Philosophy of Language

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 60

Chapter-3
Jaina Philosophy of Word
Language and word
The first question of Prajñāpanā-sūtra is related to the origin of language where as the second question is related to the expression of language. The Mahāvīra's contention with regard to expression of language was that the language is produced by body or bodily efforts'. Jaina philosophers have classified the words into two classes viz. Prāyogika (caused by efforts) and Vaisrasika (caused naturally)? Simultaneously, he maintains that language is made of prayogika words and not of vaisrasika. Language is the result of the bodily efforts of beings, so the contention of Prajñāpanā that the language is born of bodily efforts seems to be correct. For language not only sensible body is necessary but the intellect or thought expression capacity in speaker as well as listener is also necessary. The language is a scriptural or verbal knowledge, which is necessarily followed by sensory knowledge (Mati-jñāna). For sensory knowledge mind and senses are essential. Therefore, the language whether it is in the form of sound-symbols or bodily- signals, it is possible only through the senses and the mind. The living beings express their feelings, emotions and thoughts through their bodily efforts, which form the base for the origin and expression of language. From this point of view, Prajñāpanā's contention that the language is produced by bodily effort is correct. Though the comprehension of the meaning by all means of bodily signals and symbols, is language but when we talk of language in the context of human beings, we do not include all types of bodily symbols, except sound symbols. In this respect the human language can be called akşarātmaka (alphabetical or letter-formed) or śabdātmaka (word-formed). Though it is true that language is sabdātmaka but all the words do not necessarily support language. The Jaina thinkers have classified the words in following manner. Firstly, from the point of view of its origin, words have been classified into two parts i.e. (i) Prāyogika (caused by efforts)