Pāṇini’s zero morphs as allomorphs in the complexity of linguistic context

Abstract

The paper aims at reconstructing some steps of the evolution of a key concept of traditional Indian grammar, namely that of linguistic zero, focusing on the earlier authors of the paṇinian tradition, namely Patañjali (II B.C.) and Bhartṛhari (V A.D.). The starting point is the pāṇinian procedure of inscribing zero-facts in the wider frame of substitution, as cases of “non perception” (adarśana) of linguistic elements otherwise expected. In the interpretation of later grammarians this linguistic description is granted, a deeper philosophical value supported by coeval reflections coming from ritual literature. In particular the interpretation of lopa as “non perception” as opposed to “non-being” seems to be an effective way to account for exceptions in the currently presupposed one-to-one symmetry between the semantic and the phono-morphological level of language