“字”的即用和“字”义的衍生——汉语语义编码以少胜多的奥秘

The Ad Hoc Usage and Derivation Meanings of "Zi"

汉语语义编码以少胜多的奥秘之一是"字"在即用中获得临时的意义,之二是通过即用的简称和缩略、隐喻和转喻以及从方言和外语的引进,直接或间接增添新的"字"义。这两者都提高了"字"的复用率和指称能力,增强了语义编码的潜能。社会、经济和文化高速发展,对新词新义产生巨大需求,这是"字"义衍生的动因,但"字"义的衍生还有赖于类比推理和心理固化等认知机制。

In Chinese,the economic use of symbols in semantic coding is achieved through two thing s.One is that the minimal structural and semantic unit ＂Zi＂ acquires temporal meaning in its ad hoc usag e.The other is that ＂Zi＂ evolves derivative meanings through abbreviation,metaphor or synonymy,importation from within or outside the language.Both enhances ＂Zi’s＂ amount of occurrence and referential power,adding to its potential for semantic codin g.The derivation of new meanings is motivated by high demand of new words and meanings in rapid social,economic and cultural development,and also depends on the cognitive mechanisms like analogy and entrenchmen t.