英汉词汇系统理据性对比

An English-Chinese Contrastive Study on Lexical Motivation

一种语言的词汇系统大致可以分为三个部分:单纯词汇、合成词汇和外来语。英汉语的单纯词汇存在语音理据和文字理据两种不同的理据类型,理据性程度差异很大;合成词汇在理据性方面颇多相似之处;而在外来语方面,英语借词和汉语写音外来语的情况又有很大不同。本文依据英汉语单纯词汇、合成词汇和外来语的理据性及其在各自词汇系统中的比例和重要性,认为英语词汇系统整体的理据性比较低,而汉语词汇系统整体的理据性很高。词汇系统理据性类型和程度的不同情况,会对语言自身和语言实践产生重大的影响。

A lexical system can be divided into three parts ： simple lexical items, complex lexical items and items from other language. There is a difference between the motivation types underlying the simple lexical items of English and Chinese, i.e. phonological motivation and graphological motivation. The former dominates the English simple words and the latter the Chinese sim- ple characters. A similar motivating mechanism works behind the complex lexical items in English and Chinese. However, motivation plays a distinct role in English loan words and Chinese borrowings. By analyzing the motivation of a lexical system and its proportion and importance in three parts of a lexical system in English and Chinese lexieal systems, the study concludes that the English lexical system is less motivated while the Chinese one is highly motivated. The motivation types and levels of a lexical system influence both the language itself and the language practice.