Yaska's Theory of Meaning: An Overlooked Episode in the History of Semantics in India

This paper aims to recover the ideas about semantics that are contained in Yaska's Nirukta (c. 6-3 century BCE), the seminal work of the Indian tradition of nirvacana or etymology. It argues that, within the framework of his etymological project, Yaska developed consistent and sophisticated ideas relating to semantics-what I call his theory of meaning. It shows that this theory assumes the form of explicit and implicit reflections pertaining to the relation between three categories: denoting names (naman/namadheya), denoted objects (sattva/artha), and name-giving action expressed by verbal roots (akhyata). A typology of Yaska's etymologies for what they reveal about semantics will be proposed and investigated. In doing so, attention will be paid to how Yaska's ideas resemble and anticipate ideas concerning the difference between polysemy and homonymity, metaphoric transfer, and synecdoche. It is hoped that attending to Yaska's thus-far largely overlooked ideas will help us better appreciate the Nirukta's role in the history of early Indian engagements with semantics.

Automated summary

This paper aims to recover and explore the semantic ideas in Yaska's Nirukta, highlighting his theory of meaning. It examines the relationship between denoting names, denoted objects, and name-giving action expressed by verbal roots, and proposes a typology for Yaska's etymologies. The paper pays attention to similarities between Yaska's ideas and modern concepts such as polysemy, homonymity, metaphoric transfer, and synecdoche. It emphasizes the importance of studying Yaska's overlooked ideas for understanding the history of Indian semantics.