语言符号的任意性与象似性辨

On the Arbitrainess and Iconicity of Linguistic Signs

语言符号的任意性与象似性之争由来已久。学者们从不同的视角来阐述语言的任意性与象似性,见仁见智。但也出现了一些不正确的观点或不正确的研究方法。有人不在同一个前提或语言结构的同一层面来讨论语言符号的任意性与象似性,导致了一些偏激观点的产生。文章认为,应该正确地理解索绪尔关于语言的任意性与可论证性(象似性)的观点,辩证地看待任意性与象似性问题。

The dispute over arbitrariness and iconicity has been a long one. Scholars have offered different views about these two linguistic attributes from different perspectives, including incorrect views and incorrect methods for study. Some discussions about arbitrariness and iconicity don＇ t share the same presupposition and the same level, resulting in some radical opinions. We hold that Saussure＇ s arbitrariness and unmotivatedness should be interpreted in a correct and dialectical way.