वर्ण and phoneme

[Bijoy Misra]

Friends,

Many linguistic books make the erroneous statement that the Sanskrit वर्णमाला

is a subset of the comprehensive IPA alphabet.  They are two different physical

objects.  The IPA alphabet is derived from the uttered speech as heard.  This

is a function of the oral cavity and the local cultural patterns.  It is based 

on the premise that the language is local.  IPA alphabet compiles all uttered 

sounds that can be isolated in hearing.  The Sanskrit वर्णमाला bestows the 

alphabet to the human frame as a signature.  It is built into each human being 

and is "eternal".  The "eternal" concept is that it does not vary from person to

 person and each वर्ण carries the same information everywhere.  The latter is 

a philosophical observation that the universe expresses itself through the वर्णमाला.

This would have two issues.  First, the वर्णमाला (शिवसूत्र) has to be discovered.

It must have been a slow process of gradual discovery through many centuries.

I appeal to researchers to discover the evolutionary path.  Connecting the 

वर्ण to semantics is the next step and this most likely emanates from the Vedas.

The objects have to be identified by observing the repetition of sounds, leading

to texts like निरुक्त.  This must have been highly painstaking and could be

a product of many centuries of work.  

The tradition of India is in creating the foundation of human speech in developing

languages of the world.  The speech वाक् is connected to the object and can

be distorted in utterance through the oral cavity leading to the IPA alphabet.  

वर्ण is a concept and is not an utterance.

Do join our "Panini and Grammar" symposium.  Registration is via mail

to idcin...@gmail.com.  The Zoom link will be posted to registrants tomorrow.

The symposium website is HOME | Thomas C Burke

Best regards,

Bijoy Misra