Vyakarana: The Philosophy of Language
- 15 Hours
-
1 Credit
*(T&C Apply) Credits applicable only for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students enrolling for SIKSHA courses through academic institutions based in India.
- UG/PG
- Arts and Humanities, STEM
- Faculty
₹2,500.00(GST additional)
About The Course
This course provides insights into the analysis of language as a tool of communication as well as a window to the working of the mind in the Indian tradition. Key highlights include: ● Holistic overview of various aspects of knowledge ● Emphasis on rigorous analysis and practical veracity in case of accepted tenets ● Understanding of language as a tool for scientific inquiry and logical reasoning
Syllabus
- Lesson 1 - Introduction to Language in Sanskrit Tradition
- ● Types of Vak in the Vedas – sounds in nature, that of animals and human language
- ● Four out of Six Vedangas deal with language
- ● Vyakarana in India was most advanced science of linguistics in the world
- ● Early grammarian traditions prior to and after Panini
- Lesson 2 - Theory of śabda – sound & word
- ● Nature of sound – what is nitya
- ● Sound is produced by samyoga, vibhaga and sabda
- ● Articulate and Inarticulate sounds
- ● Phonetics and types of phonemes
- ● What is a word?
- ● Nature of meaning
- ● Relation between word and meaning
- ● Concept of Pravahanityata in Vyakarana
- Lesson 3 - The Power of the Word
- ● What is the denotative power of a word
- ● Relation between word and meaning is pratyayya-pratyayaka sambandha
- ● Does the word refer to a category or universal?
- ● Does a word refer to an individual?
- ● Relation between class category (universal) and individual
- ● Apoha theory of the Buddhists
- Lesson 4 – Usage of word and sentence – Vrtti & Vakya
- ● What is the primary meaning of words
- ● Abhidha or sakti
- ● Secondary meaning of words – lakshana
- ● Conditions for secondary meaning of words
- ● Suggested meaning or Vyanjana
- ● Use of Vyanjana in poetry
- Lesson 5 – Pratibha – the Flash of Understanding
- ● Sentence is the unit of communication –
- ● Conditions for sentence: akanksha, yogyata, sannidhi,
- ● What is tatparya
- ● What is Pratibha
- ● Sentence Meaning in Two Ways
- ● Abhihitanvayavada, Anvitabhidhana
- Lesson 6 – The Fourfold Division of Vak
- ● Vedic references to fourfold division of Vak
- ● References in Nirukta of Yaska
- ● Primitive speech and language
- ● Bhartrhari’s fourfold division
- ● Para, Pasyanti, Madhyama, Vaikhari
- ● Vivarta and Parinama
- ● The foul levels in meditation
- Lesson 7 – The Theory of Sphota
- ● Early references to sphota in Nirukta and Mahabhashya
- ● Pada sphota, vakya sphota of Bhartrhari
- ● Akhanda vakya
- ● Temporal sequence of phonemes in an utterance
- ● Objections to Sphota by Nyaya and Mimamsa
- Lesson 8: VALIDITY OF A STATEMENT
- ● The means to cognition: Pramanas
- ● Validity of cognition
- ● Buddhi - Indian tradition of psychology
- ● Epistemology – Indian Khyati theories
- ● False cognition, Doubt, Logical analysis
- ● The Validity of Vedas
- Lesson 9: Three Landmark Texts
- ● Ashadhyayi of Panini
- ● Mahesvara Sutras – Aksharasamamnaya
- ● Inflection of verbs and nouns in Sanskrit
- ● Vakyapadiyam of Bhartrhari
- ● Fourteen Samuddesas
- ● Siddhantakaumudi of Bhattoji Dikshita
- Lesson 10: Features of Poetic Language
- ● Concept of beauty in the Vedas
- ● Embellishments of Poetry
- ● Purpose of poetry
- ● Sabdalankara – embellishment of sound
- ● Arthalankara – figures of speech
- ● Equipment of a poet – pratibha, vyutpatti and abhyasa
- ● Purusharthas – dharma, artha, kama, moksha
More Information
- Learning Objectives
- ● Developing clarity in thought, which is key to Indian philosophy
- ● Improving communication
- ● Developing the ability to examine a sentence for its validity, while gaining an appreciation of Nyāya, Vyākaraṇa and Mīmāmsā systems of Indian philosophy on the subject of language
- Intended Outcomes
- ● Gain understanding of language and cognition from an Indian philosophical standpoint
- ● Cultivate a profound appreciation for the complexity and beauty of communication
- ● Facilitate further exploration of Śāstra-s
- ● Contribute to interdisciplinary fields such as Computational Linguistics, Public Relations, Social and Digital Media, Marketing and Advertising, Writing and Publishing, Business Communication and Human Resources Management