Semantic Formal System

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Scholars study prehistory of India from perspectives of Archaeology,

linguistics, Mythology, Indus script and so on. Different scholars

interpret the same ancient verses (of say text like Rigveda) in different

ways. We all know that a paragraph makes a better understanding than a

single sentence and single sentence offers better understanding than a

single word. However single word does carry meaning . But sometimes

scholars differ even on the meaning of a single word (Example-Sanskrit

word Samudra). Almost all linguists believe that meanings associated with

words are conventional. Aristotle concluded that since words were

conventional signs, they could only be considered as the result of an

agreement among the users. Epicurus raised the question that how it was

possible for people devoid of language to agree on the meaning of the

words to be used? If we follow the line of Dr.M.Mishra (isolative to

agglutinative to inflectional), we may end up (on trial and error basis)

attaching (or deciphering) meanings to individual syllables or VarNAS.

Here is problem. Human vocal tract can make certain definite number of

articulate sounds, say maximum about sixty. We would like to attach to

(or identify with) each of them a single semantic concept. Where do we

start, with what sound first? Now suppose I do not know any language on

the earth other than Sanskrit. In order to express the meaning of single

sound (or say for convenience, of single consonant or vowel), I have to

use (or make) a word out of other VarNAs which carry their own individual

meanings. I think, I would be in trouble here because of "self

reference". My question is-Is it possible to create such a semantic

formal system with sixty or so axioms (Sanskrit-Utsarga) and every

possible combination of VarNAS (could be called a word) as a theorem

(Sanskrit-Prameya). Now suppose I know one language other than Sanskrit.

Would that be of any help? It is said that language is inherently

ambiguous and uncertain. That is problem and power of the system. Trouble

may arise in attempting to capture formally precision and the fuzziness.

In scientific disciplines, it does not matter whether one calls it

Electricity or Vidyuti as long as the effect of electricity is shown

experimentally. Experimental results could perhaps pin down the correct

meanings of the ancient controversial Sanskrit terms. But what experiment

we could do in case of the word Samudra? In the mean time I simply enjoy

the triplet of words- Yuti (joining of two), Dyuti (electric dipole) and

Vidyuti (broken dipole). Thanks.N.R.Joshi.

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>Narayan R Joshi <giravani@J...> wrote:

>In the mean time I simply enjoy the triplet of words- Yuti (joining

>of two), Dyuti (electric dipole) and Vidyuti (broken dipole).

 

Please advise if this play on inflections in ai.br i.2 helps.

 

"The sacrifice went away from gods; it they sought to start up with

offerings (praisha aisha); in that they sought to start it up with

offerings that is why offerings have their name. They found it; he

prospers having found the sacrifice who knows thus. The libations

(Ahuti) are calling by name, for by them the sacrificer call to the

gods; that is why libations have their name. Ways (Uti) rather are

they called by which the gods come to the call of the sacrificer;

paths and passages are ways; verily thus are they the roads to haven

of the sacrificer..."

 

Any applications of Uti? vibhUti (the way wealth comes)? or vidyuti?

vidya + uti? vid +uti? Can you split yuti? I am not ashamed of being

wrong.

 

Regards

Bhadraiah