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Society, Epistemology and Logic in Indian Tradition
"A verbal designation is a word of speech through which something is denoted. To coalesce with a word means (such a condition when) the denoted aspect of the object and its verbal aspect are mixed up in its apprehended aspect. Thus, when denoted fact and the word denoting it have entered in to one act of cognition, then the word and object have coalesced." (Buddhist Logic, vol II, p.19)
Dharmottara's view
134
Dharmottara explains the importance of the word 'abhilāpa-sāmsarga-yogya' and says that there are two types of cognition: (1) one is associated with a word, as in the case of ghaṭa-jñāna (knowledge of a pot) of a person having conventional knowledge of ghata (pot), (2) another cognition which is not yet associated with a word, but seems capable of being associated with it, as in the case of a baby, who is unaware of conventional knowledge. Both of these cognitions come under the category of kalpana'. Here the word 'yogya' (capable) includes the second category of a cognition above which forms the definition of kalpana. Although a new-born baby has no verbal association with a cognition of mother's breast, but if capable of giving a name to that, then that also may be considered as kalpanā.
Here a question arises how is the capability for verbal designation is decided? Dharmottara answers this question by saying that the verbal designation is not produced by the object actually apprehended and, therefore, it is not a restricted mental reflex, since the factor corresponding to it does not exist; it is created by the 'Nyayabindutikā, p.44
