英语中的语音象征

Sound symbolism in English

本文从英语角度对语音象征这一语言普遍现象作了论析和探讨．语音象征，不论是直接的还是联觉的，虽然从拟声构词的角度为词提供了一定的理据，但仍然具有词作为任意符号这一约定俗成的特性。在文学语言中语音象征常被用作一种富于表现力的形象手段，在诗歌和儿童文学中使用尤为普遍。语音象征的作用还表现在英语构词即新词的创造上。

Sound symbolism, which is a language universal, can be divided into direct sound symbolism andsynaesthetic sound symbolism.This pader argues that words based on sound symbolism, whether direct orsynaesthetic, are arbitrary and conventional as most English words, though they are onomatopeicaily motivated toa certain extept. It also deals with the wide application of sound symbolism in poetry and children's books, andexplores the role sound symbolism plays in English word-formation.Keywoeds: sound symbolism, phonaestheme, symbolic value