Limits of Language: Poststructuralism and Ancient Indian Theories

Limits of Language is a critical exploration in the paths critical theory has taken after the 'linguistic turn' in literary criticism, with Ferdinand Saussure's formulations on language exploited in the structuralist, poststructuralist and postmodernist interpretation of meaning in creative writing, history and philosophy, and examines the interpretations offered by these contemporary theories from the perspective of ancient Indian theories of language, creative literature, history and philosophy-particularly the philosophical speculations of Bhartrhari in Vakyapadiya, Bharat-Muni on Rasa-Dhvani theory, Mandana Mishra in his critique of negation, Nagarjuna on Madhyamaka theory, and Jain philosophers on Anekantavada. The book is specifically motivated by Saussure's concept of linguistic sign giving rise to semiotics, and Jacques Derrida's radical interpretation of the sign as differance, with a view from ancient Indian philosophers that language as a medium with severe limitations, fail in presenting the full experience of reality as it is.

About the Author(s)

Pradeep Sharma has taught English language and literature at universities in India, Libya, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia. He has contributed chapters in books on poststructuralist, postcolonial and postmodernist literary theory.