hss-seminar-63

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Indian Institute of Technology Ropar

HSS Seminar

‘Exploring the Possibilities of a Theory of Meaning for a Theory of Discourse Structure’

by

Prof. B. N Patnaik

April 1, 2019, Monday, at 3:30 PM

Venue:  Lecture Hall 10.

Abstract

Here we explore the possibilities of constructing a theory of the structure of conversational interaction, more generally, of discourse, from a certain theory of meaning proposed by some ancient Indian philosophers and rhetoricians The theory under reference postulates that words have “power” and explicates this idea in the form of a theory of denotative and connotative (or literal and non-literal) meaning. From the contemporary linguistic perspective, this theory can be characterized as a theory of the “use”, rather than of the “structure” of language. One instance of language in use is communication, in particular, helpful communication (excluding such instances of interaction as backbite, gossip, quarrel, etc.). Quite naturally, then, dissemination and exchange of “information” can be said to be a crucial concept here. This theory, unlike the contemporary theory of meaning in generative linguistics, makes no formal distinction between semantics and pragmatics. In the lack of any explicit claim in this regard, it may appear unclear whether discourse, which is a multi-sentential entity, is within the scope of this theory in its original articulation. In our view, making this claim for this theory is unproblematic. For us, this theory of meaning is a theory of the structure of conversation (in particular and discourse in general). Coherence is the key feature of a discourse, from the point of view of both production and interpretation, and the relevant theory is neutral to the speaker and the hearer. It is partly a function of certain formal features like sentence or clause linkers, repetition of words, use of synonyms, pronominal entities, etc. and partly a matter internal to the mind, in the sense that the mind sees a connectedness between utterances (in spoken discourse or sentences in written discourse) in terms of meaning, whether such connection is intended or unintended by the speaker. We maintain that this notion of coherence can be explicated in terms of the theory of meaning under reference here. Sarala Mahabharata, written in Odia in the fifteenth century, is used for illustrative purposes.

About the speaker:

Bibudhendra Narayan Patnaik is a retired Professor of English and Linguistics, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He received his PhD in English (Linguistics & Phonetics) from CIEFL in 1977. His broad research interests include Generative Syntax, History of Ideas in Generative Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Communication Studies. Over the years, he has published several books and journal articles over a wide range of issues in linguistics. In the recent years, Prof. Patnaik is working on Oriya Purans, specifically the Sarala Mahabharat, Oriya Folk Literature, Discourse Analysis, Comparative Linguistic Traditions, and Protest Literature. He is currently preparing a manuscript titled Introducing Saaralaa Mahaabhaarata.