Theory of Sphota

by Nidhi Jasani

Email : nidhijasani15@gmail.com

Theory of Sphota • Theory of Sphota is given by

Bhartrhari.• Sphota theory originally found in

Sanskrit language. • This term is used in Sanskrit

grammar (vyakarana).

Origin of the term

While the sphoṭa theory proper (sphoṭavāda) originates with Bhartṛhari, the term has a longer history of use in the technical vocabulary of Sanskrit grammarians, and Bhartṛhari may have been building on the ideas of his predecessors, whose works are partly lost.Sanskrit sphoṭa is etymologically derived from the root sphuṭ 'to burst'. It is used in its technical linguistic sense by Patañjali (2nd century BCE), in reference to the "bursting forth" of meaning or idea on the mind as language is uttered. Patañjali's sphoṭa is the invariant quality of speech. The acoustic element (dhvani) can be long or short, loud or soft, but the sphoṭa remains unaffected by individual speaker differences (Wikipedia).

.

Bhartrhari’s view on

Sphota

• Bhartrhari’s view is that

meaning is not conveyed

from the speaker to the

listener, rather, the spoken

words serve only as

stimulus to reveal or

uncover the meaning

which was already present

in the mind of the hearer.

Sphota Theory

Bhartrhari begins the discussion on the sphota theory with the observation that words or sentences can be considered under two aspects, as sound-patterns or as meaning-bearing symbols.

Sphota theory

• In meaningful language, linguists recognize two entities, both of which may be called words.

Meaningful language

Underlying cause of the articulated

sounds.

WordsAttached to Meaning

• The articulated sound pattern which is the external facet of the language symbol.

• Other is attached to the meaning, it is semantic facet which expires the meaning (Kunjunni).

• Bhartrhari’s analysis envisages three aspects of the language situation.

1. The Vakrta-dhavni2. The Prakrta-dhavni3. The Sphota

The Vakrta-dhavni

The Vakrta-dhavni, the individual instance of the utterance in purely phonetic terms. It is the actual sound spoken by the speaker and heard by the listener. It includes all the various differences in intonation, tempo, pitch, etc. depending on the individual speakers.

The Prakrta-dhavni

• The Prakrta-dhavni, the phonological structure, the sound-pattern of the norm; or, from another point of view, the name of the class of which the various instances are members. Both the speaker and the listener are conscious of the normal phonological pattern alone. The time-sequence is still present in this. It may be considered as the acoustic image of the normal expression, or the expression in the mind, keeping the time-order with it.

The Sphota • The Sphota, the integral linguistic symbol,

which is the unit of meaning, but which can be

not pronounce or written. This is manifested

by the prakrta-dhavni. In fact it is the prakrta-

dhavni considered as an integral, meaning-

bearing, linguistic sign.

• Bibliography• Kunjunni, Raja. "Bhartrhri's

Discussion of the Nature of the Sphota." Indian Aesthetics. n.d. 272-281.

• Wikipedia. sphota-Wikipedia. 21 january 2017 <http://www.wikipedia.com>.