A study of the subjunctive and the other moods in Vedic on the basis of mutual understanding between grammar and thought

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02042
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Chinese philosophy/Indian philosophy/Buddhist studies
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Doyama Eijiro 大阪大学, 文学研究科, 教授 (40346052)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 接続法 / 叙法 / リグヴェーダ / ヴェーダ / アヴェスタ / 一般言語学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study explored the forms and functions of the subjunctive as well as the other moods in Vedic on the basis of mutual understanding between grammar and thought. First, I worked on the long-desired clarification of the original form of the Indo-European subjunctive suffix and identification of the 3rd plural forms. As the functional study, I made clear how Paanini and his followers interpreted them in his/their work(s). But most importantly, I pointed out fundamental problems about functions of the subjunctive in the so-called “subordinate clause” and demonstrated a possible solution to it from the viewpoint of general linguistics. In the course of the study, I collected and analyzed sufficient examples to promote the comprehensive study of the functions of the Vedic moods including the subjunctive in the future. Thus doing, I also showed that the research into the language and thought should and can only be carried out with each other.

Free Research Field

インド・イラン学、ヴェーダ学、言語学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究はまず第一に、ヴェーダ語の接続法や叙法全般の機能研究を大きく進展させた。特に、従来漠然と使われたきた機能分類の見直しと新たな観点の導入を迫ったことは、一般言語学にも寄与するものである。また、叙法を基軸に行ったテキスト解釈は、文献言語の厳密な理解がその思想内容の理解に及ぼす影響を、つまりは言語・思想の一体的研究の重要性を浮き彫りにした。思想史が原典の翻訳とその理解から描き出されることを考えれば、一般書による社会への発信において本研究が持つ基礎研究としての意義は大きい。