Jaina Philosophy of Language

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 86

(60) : Jaina Philosophy of Language the denotation of word is always changing. In Prakrit literature, the word Isara (Išvara) indicates a prosperous person. After a due course of time the same word started to be used as a creator and controller of the world. The word Brahma, which was initially indicator of sacrifice (yajña), was later on described as ultimate realiiy. The word Buddha' which was initially indicator of intelligent (Prajñāvāna) was later on changed as Buddhūi.e. the foolish one. Similarly, the word nagna(naked) and luncita (one whose hairs have been plucked) which were used particularly for Jaina Munis (ascetics) were changed as 'nangā'(wicked) and 'luccā'(wanton), and become the synonyms of wicked person. These are a few examples of words, which were changed to quite different meanings. The change in the meaning of a word is an usual phenomena. There are so many ways of change in the meaning of words, viz.
(i) Extension of meaning- e.g. Ink. Initially it was used for black ink only but presently it is used for the ink of all colours.
ii. Contraction of meaning- e.g. the word vāsa (smell). This word was used initially for all type of smells viz. good or bad but presently it is used only for foul (stinking).
iii. Transfer of meaning- e.g. the word Asura. Formerly used as the indicator of gods was changed to the meaning of demons. Thus, the exaitation and degradation in the meaning of the word is a natural process. This discussion culminates that the denotations of words are always getting and loosing their meaning in the changing streams of time.
Philosophically, the process of change of the meaning concludes that there is not any constant relation between the word and its denotation. The denotation of word is never determined by the roots of word only, but its meaning is changing according to the context. The famous linguistic analyst L. Wittegenstine propounded the use theory (prayoga-siddhānta) to illustrate the relation of the word with its denotation. According to this theory, the denotation of a word is determined by its use. Some times, the similar words or sentences give the different meanings due to style of predication. For example, if one says simply you are a over gentle man', but when this sentence is spoken putting stress on the word 'over,' it gives totally different meaning. That is why the Jainas formulated two