叶斯柏森语法理论体系研析

A study of Jespersen's system of grammar,

叶斯柏森是一位公认的杰出语言学家 ,一生活跃于语言学的广阔领域 ,论著极丰。他的理论至今仍有很高的学术价值。叶氏认为语言是人类的一种活动 ,语言的生命在于形式和意义的相互作用 ,因此 ,在语言研究中必须坚持形式和意义相结合的原则。语法研究可以从形式出发探求其意义 ,也可以从意义出发寻求其表达形式。叶氏据此建立了他的新语法体系———二分体系。他引进了与句法范畴相应的意念范畴 ,建立了形式—功能—意念的三分体系 ,认为功能是形式和意念之间的中介。为适应描写的需要 ,叶氏提出了著名的三品说以及组合式和连结式的理论 ,在叶氏的理论中可以见到现代语言学的端倪 。

Jespersen was an outstanding linguist. His theories are still of great academic value today. He holds that language is a human activity and the life of language lies in the interplay between form and meaning. Thus he establishes his new system of grammar — the two fold division system. On this basis he introduces notional categories that correspond to the syntactic categories already established, and sets up a three fold division system in which Function serves to mediate between Form and Notion. To meet the needs of description of syntactic relations, Jespersen offers his well known theory of Rank, Junction and Nexus. His theories foreshadow modern linguistics; however, there seem to be some problems with regard to notional categories and the two way approach that call for further study.