摘要
自索绪尔在其著作中将语言符号的任意性原则确立为第一原则以来,语言学界从未停止过对该原则的思考。随着功能语言学、认知语言学等的兴起,人们对该原则进行了重新审视,许多学者还提出了前所未有的挑战。他们认为,语言符号具有高度的理据性或象似性。陆丙甫、郭中的"语言符号理据性面面观"一文就是该观点的典型代表。本文从厘清几个重要概念出发,探讨了索绪尔语言符号任意性的含义,并就事物的命名、非任意性语言符号的任意性以及语言符号的声音象征等进行了探讨,并指出语言符号理据说或象似说所陷入的误区。本文认为,语言符号的根本属性是任意性的,探讨语言符号的任意性必须真正弄清语言符号的本质,必须弄清索绪尔所界定的语言符号的所指和能指,必须弄清语言符号同符号之间所处的不同层次的关系。
Ever since Saussure established the arbitrary nature of the linguistic sign as the first principle in his book Course in General Linguistics, there has been never-ending meditation over this principle in the academic circle. In recent years with the emergence of functional linguistics, cognitive linguistics and other linguistic disciplines, this principle has been much re-scrutinized and has met with unprecedented challenges. Some scholars insist that linguistic signs are motivated or iconic. This view is most typically manifested in the article ＂All Linguistic Signs Are Motivated＂ co-authored by Lu Bingfu and Guo Zhong. The present paper firstly clarifies some important concepts related to the discussion of the principle followed by an elaboration on what Saussure means by linguistic signs and by a brief discussion of the naming, the arbitrariness of non-arbitrary linguistic signs and the sound symbolism of linguistic signs. It then points out the mistaken notions held by those who regard linguistic signs as being motivated or iconic and concludes that arbitrariness is the fundamental attribute of linguistics signs. The paper also stresses that an exploration of the arbitrary nature of linguistic signs entails a full understanding of （ 1 ） the nature of linguistic signs, （2） both the signifier and the signified of ＂linguistic signs＂ defined by Saussure and （3） the different levels at which hnguistic signs and signs are situated.
出处
《外国语》
CSSCI
北大核心
2008年第2期40-48,共9页
Journal of Foreign Languages
基金
广东外语外贸大学外国语言学及应用语言学研究中心资助
关键词
语言符号
符号
任意性
声音象征
理据性
linguistic signs
signs
arbitrariness
sound symbolism
motivation
