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Tuesday 22 July 2014

SILENCEME: THE SILENT “OTHER” IN LINGUISTICS/SILENCE STUDIES



SILENCEME: THE SILENT “OTHER” IN LINGUISTICS/SILENCE STUDIES

If Linguistics is stipulated, for the time being, as an epistemological
discipline for the deployment of algocentric (a discourse that is motivated
by metamathematical formalism or computational algorithmic simulation and
which ignores the non-algorithmic constitutive “rules”) meta-symbolic order
on the symbolic order, one may find a marginal other in Linguistics—an
order of non-signs. For these non-signs, let me introduce a term:
“silenceme”, which is at a time a non-sign and a sign and does not have a
fixed componential meaning and thus violates the law of excluded middle.

A blank parchment with the supposed seal of Caesar, when “read” by Antony,
swayed the commoners (Julius Caesar, 3.2). In Tagore’s play, Post-office, a
conspirator, out of fun, sent a blank letter to an “illiterate”(?) boy, who
was expecting king’s letter, when he was waiting for death. However,
another character altogether differently interpreted that blank letter.
This blankness of the white letter, then, was not interpreted as a
poisonous fun, but as a “real” remedy for that boy.

When you were asking me, “What’re you doing?” I said, “Nothing.” This
single word, ”nothing” , a supposed minimal “free” (Where lies the
essential freedom of word? ) form, is not free at all—“nothing” ’s freedom
was pervaded by “other” non-signs, nothingness, the unspoken or something
unspeakable, the non-discursive sonority or unintended sounds (as in John
Cage’s musical compositions or in Rauschenberg and Robert Ryman’s
Minimalist paintings with almost white surfaces.)

There may be a strategic taxonomy of silenceme: cognitive silenceme,
transcendental silenceme (as in case of seeking absolute silence and that
is impossible!); Pathological silenceme (as in case of Foreclosure or
Psychosis, the symbolic order is totally or partially rejected [instead of
being repressed]; one’s Language Acquisition Device is not working due to
the outside threat and violence); Creative silenceme ( as practiced by some
Buddhists by non-internalizing the outside threat and violence.); Silenceme
of conspiracy (the phrase “conspiracy of silence” was often used by Marx
and Engels) etc. Thus, spoke Sartre: being silent does not entail that I
am refusing to speak but it is a mode of keeping on speaking (What is
Literature).

What will we, the linguist community, do with such so-called ambiguous
category? In Linguistics, what will be our agenda now? May we take
Wittgenstein or John Cage seriously? Alternatively, we may ignore the
silent marginal “other” space in Linguistics: the silenceme!

Colophon: Stefano Pocci, Diaforia; John Cage Site on Silence, Virginia University;
Neologisms: Silenceme, Silence Studies, Algocentric Discourse.

BIBILIOGRAPHY


2006. “Silenceme: the silent other in Linguistics” LINGUIST List 17.2149. Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University.
http://linguistlist.org/issues/17/17-2149.html#
2006. সার্ত-এর চুপসাধনা” [Silenceme in Sartre].” [Silenceme in Sartre].” Ed. Atanushasan Mukhopadhyay Dashadishi. Kolkata. II:2. (pp.52-3) Decl. No. 52/04. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)
2007. “জেগে বা ঘুমিয়ে-- 'ভারতীয়' দর্শনে” (Hanging between Sleeping and Waking -- ‘Indian' Philosophy).”(Hanging between Sleeping and Waking -- ‘Indian' Philosophy). Tepantar .Vol. V (pp.141-66) Kolkata: Sanhati.  Download.pdf Download (.pdf)
2009. “নীরবতার না- ভাষাতত্ত্ব: লালনে Non-Linguistics of Silenceme: Lalon” ShaktinathJha ed. Ocinpakhi. LalonsaMrokgrontho. Vol.XX. Nadia, West Bengal LalonMelaSamiti. (pp. 16-24). Revised version: 2012. einisOrgopOtro. I:1 (pp. 9-16) Download.pdf Download (.pdf)
2011. “The Psychology of Silence: The Story of Bharat.” Diaforia, No. 5, July 2011. Italy. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)
2012. “ECP is Dead, Long Live ECP" M. S. Thirumalai ed. Language in India. 12:4. (pp. 79-86). ISSN 1930-2940. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)
2012. PRAGMATICS OF SILENCEME  Paper presented at the "International Seminar on Pragmatics of Cross Communication In Multilingual Setting". Department of Linguistics, Aligarh Muslim University. 14-16 September, 2013.  Download (.pptx)
2013. Review Of the Book: "Sounds Of Silence". Jutta M. Hartmann, Veronika Hegedus, Henk Van Reimsdijk, eds., Elsevier Science, 2007. Indian Linguistics. Vol. 74, Nos. 1-2. (pp. 121-26) ISSN 0378-0759. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)
2014. “The Movement Within: A Secret Guide To Esoteric Kayaasadhanaa: Caryaapada”.”Journal of Bengali Studies, Vol.3 No.1. (pp. 113-27) ISSN# 2277-9426.

MOVIE:
·         এবংনীরবতা.পরিচালনা: দেবাঞ্জনসেনগুপ্ত. সৌজন্য: কলকাতাটিভি.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfqRo7YD10M

·         এবংনীরবতা২পরিচালনা: দেবাঞ্জনসেনগুপ্ত. সৌজন্য: কলকাতাটিভি.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVIn0KPmucU



Paintings: Robert Rauschenberg and Robert Ryman’s Minimalist paintings

বাংলা ব্যাকরণের প্রত্নতত্ত্ব ARCHAEOLOGY OF BANGLA GRAMMAR






 

Debaprasad Bandyopadhyay *

^ দেবপ্রসাদ বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়



ABSTRACT

It is a  post-structural intervention in the realm of Bangla grammars (written in 19th. C. and in the first phase of 20th.  C.) by deploying post-colonial irrationality. The work shows process of appropriation of grammatical discourse under the colonial rule in Bengal. Non-discursive formation (like colonialism, nationalism etc.) and the discursive formation of Bangla Grammar written under the colonial rule are correlated.  The epistemological thresholds among vyaakarana, general grammar, philology, linguistics and their amalgamations are shown in a mimic and hybrid space.

·         If grammar is within the biological existence of Speaking/Hearing Subjects, why are you writing grammar? Speaking on speaking means meta-speaking and that is the project of vyaakarana, general grammar, philology and linguistics despite their fuzzy as well as determined thresholds. Grammatical orders of things are controlled/ appropriated/ approximated/codified by the statist and familial non-discursivity. Grammar is political action that codifies S/HS’s docile body. Text books of grammar were analyzed to show the affinities between statist constitution and the constitution of grammar.
Therefore, let us have an anti-grammar (=GrammEr)—a pedagogical praxis in unschooling.
·         Linear deterministic history of language is a nation statist project—a genealogical fantasy confirmed by pratyavijna.  Inanimate arbitrary signs are animated, a three-dimensional object—thus philology has become leisure class’s cup of tea. None talks about historicism.
Linear history of Bangla literature had overlapped with the “development” and “origin” of the Bangla language in the discourses of philologists and literary historians. Put why-question here as a connoisseur.

·         Compensatory lengthening or deaspiration  phenomena as described by Bengali philologists, are results of obsession with writing. Reduplication, as a term , tautologous. Relative degree of arbitrariness or switching over of sense organs in case of so-called icons, though was observed, were ignored. However large corpus was generated to show the autonomous status of imagined order: Nation state Bangla.

STRUCTURE OF THE PROJECT

1.      A Dream that subscribes nation statist imagination.
2.      Demanding Grammar (in the 19th C. Bengal)
3.      In Search of Mother (Land and Language): (Nation) State of affairs
4.      Episteme in the 19th. C. knowledge/power
5.      Institutionalizing Bangla
6.      Defining/extending (the border of) Bangla (A case of dispute with Oriya and Assamiya)
7.      Standardizing Bangla (n-glossia)
8.      Grammaticalizing Bangla (Discursive Formation of Bangla Grammar)
9.      Sunitikumar’s Psycho-Biography
10.   Anti-Grammar and Methodological issues

NEOLOGISM: Epistemological Amalgamation, allocurriculeme, n-glossia, anti-grammar= grammEr


For detailed discussion, kindly follow hyperlinks (blue-colored titles) 


·         2011সম্প্রদান- ব্যাকরণ--রাজনীতি-- অর্থনীতি (Political Economy of Sampradana Karaka). Pranab K. Chakroborty ed. Interaction VII. (pp. 4-13).  Nabadwip, West Bengal. India. ISSN 2277-4335 Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         2009. সরল রেখায় ইন্ডিকভাষা-ইতিহাস: সমস্যার ইতিহাস (Linear History of Indic Language: Some Problems of Historiography). Ed. Chakroborty, Barun. Tomar sristrir pOth  (Acarya Sukumar Sen Commemoration Volume). Kolkata: Aparna Book Distributors. (pp. 448-71) ISBN 81-86036-79-2 Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         2006. এই যে আমার ভাষার রক্তাক্ত শরীর: ব্যাকরণ” (This is the Blooded Body of My Language: Grammar) Prasanga Bangla Byakaran 2.  A Collection of Articles on Bengali Grammar. Bangla Academy, Govt. of West Bengal, Kolkata. (pp.112-146) ISBN: 81-7751-137-81. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         2006. বাংলার খোয়াবনামা (Bangla: A Genealogical Fantasy)”. SOtobOrser aloke bONgo bhONgo, Kolkata: Pustak Bipani. (pp. 426- 447). First published in 2005.Chattopadhyay, D. ed. Parikatha. VII:2 (pp. 320-40) Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         2005. সমাজের অভিধান লেখার ক্রমবর্ধমান অসুবিধা [An Incessant Struggle for Writing a Societal Lexicon] Mukhopadhyay, Kamal ed.Shileendhra. 39:1 (pp.115-28) R.N. 18394/70 Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         2004. Shandilya, Suradutta “বটতলা চুম্বন পদ্ধতি আর পেটমোটা ব্যাকরণ বই Shil, B. Ed. Janapadprayas VII:2 (pp.55-68) Special issue on Grammar, Language & Spelling. (pp.5-9) Chunchra, Hoogly. RNI Approval No. W.B. Ben 09691/25/01/97 Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         2004. ব্যাকরণ চাই না”. Shil, B. Ed. Janapadprayas VII:2 (pp.55-68) Special issue on Grammar, Language & Spelling. Chunchra, Hoogly. RNI Approval No. W.B. Ben 09691/25/01/97. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·          2004. এই ব্যাকরণ বইটা সুনীতিবাবুর লেখা (নয়). Bhowmik, Tapas ed. Korok. (Special issue on Sunitikumar Chattopadhyay). (pp. 145-52) Kolkata. Jan-April ’04. R.N. 41092/82. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         2004. Review of the book, সমালোচনা: বাংলাভাষাচর্চা“BaNla bhaSa cOrca: bONgodOrSon theke SONkolon by Biswajit Ray.” Sen, Ashok, Partha Chatterji, Sankha Ghosh ed.Baromas. XXVI:1.(pp. 230-31) R.N. 34830/78 Download.pdf Download (.pdf)


·         2003. কেন পড়া হয় ব্যাকরণ?[Why Do We Read Grammar?] Ghoshal, Subhash ed. Sandhitsa. 1:3 (pp.59-68) Kolkata: Shri Aurovinda Bhaban.

·         2002. কেমন করে লিখব বাংলা ব্যাকরণের (ইতিহাস) প্রত্নতত্ত্ব:একটি উপক্রমনিকা.” [An Introductory Guide to Write Archaeology of Bangla Grammar] Chakroborty, Partha ed. Ababhas. I:4.(pp.20-30) Jan-March’02 Kolkata. RNI: 5027/01. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         2001. “(M)Other Tongue Syndrome: From Breast To Bottle”. Kumar, R. ed. Studies in Sociolinguistics and Applied Linguistics. (pp. 87-106) Centre of Advanced Studies in Linguistics, Osmania University Hyderabad: Booklinks. ISBN 81-85194-68-8. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         2001. “Triglossia in Bangla”. Omkar N. Koul and P. Umarani ed. Sociolinguistics and Language Education (A Festschrift for Dr. D.P. Pattanayak). New Delhi: Creative. ISBN 81-86318-87-9. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)



·         ব্যাকরণ মানি না” [ I do not obey Grammar] Manobmon.Founder Editor: Dhirendranath Gangopadhyay (pp.3-7) Kolkata. (Reprinted in “Bidhan Chandra College Patrika ( 40th anniversary celebration issue, 2001.(pp.73-77), Rishra, Hoogly. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         1999. “Why Do I Forsake Historical Linguistics?”.International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics. Vol. XXVIII, No.2. (pp.1-10). Thiruvanthapuram. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         1999. “Two Phonological Changes in Indo-Aryan”. 2nd International Conference on South Asian Languages. Patiala. 8-10 January, 1999. 


·         1999. “Triglossia in Bangla”. Omkar N. Koul and P. Umarani ed. Sociolinguistics and Language Education (A Festschrift for Dr. D.P. Pattanayak). New Delhi: Creative. ISBN 81-86318-87-9. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

§  “Archaeology of Bangla Grammar (Ph.D. Synopsis)”. Udayan-I Centre for Applied Linguistics and Translation Studies.Central University of Hyderabad.(pp.1-2) Download.pdf Download (.pdf)
·         1997 “A Discussion on “Towards a Praxis of Anti-Grammar.” Subramoniam, V.I. & A.P. Andrewskutty ed. International Journal  Of  Dravidian Linguistics. Vol . XXV, No.1. (pp.126-132). Thiruvanthapurarn. RNI: 22651/72  Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         1997. ”Colony’s Burden: A Case of Extending Bangla.” Aligarh Journal of Linguistics. Vol. V:  1.(pp.40-35) Aligarh.Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         1997. Towards a Praxis of Anti-Grammar.” Sharma, Dhrendra  ed. Philosophy and Social Action. Vol.23, No.1 (pp.33-42). Jan-March ‘97. Delhi. RNI: 26958/75 ISSN 0377-2772. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·          1997. Standardization: Myth or Reality?” Bahri, U.S. ed. Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics. Vol. XXII, No.2 (pp.73-76). Delhi. ISSN  0379-0037.  Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

·         1996. “Kolkata Dialects and the Aspects of Standardization: Preliminary Observations.” In Hasnain, I. ed.  (Foreword. J. Fishman)Standardization and Modernization(pp.197-202).  Delhi: Bahari Publication. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)  Reprinted from: Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics. Vol .XVII. No.2. Dec.1991. (pp.197-202) Delhi. ISSN  0379-0037.

·         1996. রামমোহনের গৌড়ীয় ব্যাকরণ[Rammohan Roy's Goudiya/Bangla Grammar]”. Paschimbanga. Vol .30, No. 12-16. October. (pp.171- 178). Ministry of Information and Culture, Govt. of West Bengal. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)


·         1996. “Archaeology of Bangla Grammar.” Subramoniam,V.I. & Andruskutty, A.P. ed. International Journal  Of  Dravidian  Linguistics. Vol.  XXV:1 .Thiruvanthapuram. (pp.126-132). RNI: 22651/72. Download.pdf Download (.pdf)

COLOPHON: B. Ramakrishna Reddy, Probal Dasgupta