索绪尔“符号学”设想的缘起和意图

The Genesis and Intention of Saussure's la sémiologie conce ptions

符号学研究符号及其在人类社会中的活力,索绪尔把握了各个符号系统的共同点──社会性,从而把握住了语言符号的本质。语言符号的本质在言说的整体语言中最充分地表现出来,由此确定语言学研究的对象———言说的整体语言。反过来,我们若要研究符号学,也必须从符号的主要系统──言说的整体语言着手,才可明晓符号学的基本问题。可见,索绪尔重视符号学,意在进行语言学研究对象的界定。语言符号的任意性这一首要真理,只有在符号创制出来以与概念相对应的一刹那,才是首要真理。一旦成为社会事实,任意性就无足轻重了,因为它与符号学系统攸关的社会事实不相干,而社会事实的核心就是对社会产物的被动接受。索绪尔一方面奉任意性为第一原则,另一方面,又以为它并不真正存在,只是一个想像而已,因为语言永远是一种既存、已在的状态,我们面对或身处的是社会事实。因此,符号对其所表示的概念而言,是任意的;对使用符号的语言社会而言,却是强制的。两者都是由集体决定的,这充分说明语言符号的本质是社会性。

Semiology deals with the sketch of a general theory of signs that studies signs within the framework of social life. By including la langue parlée in semiology to feature sociality, we are able to classifyla langue parlée. As Ferdinand de Saussure grasped the common ground of systems of signs： sociality, he grasped the essence of linguistic signs, which can be visualized in la langue parlée. Consequently, he delimited the objectof linguistic study： la langue parlée. Conversely, if we want to study semiology, we should start with la langue parlée, the main system of signs, so that we can be clear enough about the elements of semiology. It is thus evident that Saussure paid close attention to semiology for the purpose of delimiting the object of linguistic study. But the visual writing represents the structure of l＇image acoustique. Classifying la langue parlée in time is possible only when we write it. The sign system of writing serves to mark linguistic units and structures already perceived by speakers, thus the writing becomes the frame or way or medium for perceiving linguistic units and structures, and provides the notions and categories for speculating the structures of la langue parlée, namely, it results from the sign system of writing to perceive structures of la langue parlée, because the writing becomes the norm and model. To pay attention to the norm is meant to pay attention to the convention and sociality of collectivity, and to the value as well. The norm appears in pure forms, and everything that concerns forms must be part of semiology. Where there are differences, there are values, and differences are based upon 1＇image acoustique which is sanctioned by the collectivity. It is the collective convention that creates social facts and values. It is really the primary truth that the linguistic sign is arbitrary, only in a flash while the sign which is created corresponds to concept. However, the arbitrary nature of the sign is of no importance as soon as the sign becomes a social fact, because it is independent of the social fact relative to a semiological system. The heart of the social fact is that we receive passively the social product. In other words, Saussure regarded the arbitrary nature as the first principle of the linguistic sign on the one hand, and thought on the other hand that it does not really exist. For la langue is already in existence for all time, and what we are in and confronted with are social facts. Therefore, the sign is arbitrary with respect to the concept, which has nothing to do with the sign, while in terms of the language community in which the linguistic sign is used, it is conventional. Both are sanctioned by the community. We can conclude that the nature of linguistic sign is sociality.