The Concept of Varṇa in Indian Thought and the Atomistic Approach

Abstract

The article attempts to examine the role of varṇa as an ultimate speech-unit by comparing it with the role of phonemes and showing that varṇa, although the majority of its characteristics coincide with that of phoneme, is not identical with it. Various translations of the term “varṇa” are discussed, corresponding to different contexts – phonetic (individual articulated sound), metaphysical (sound archetype) and meta-theoretical, or classificatory (class name). The author makes a comparision of varṇa and letter and their role in the paradox of meaning-generation discussed in the “Mahābhāshya” of Indian grammarian Patanjali and in Plato's dialogue the “Theaetetus”.