上层的任意性和底层的象似性

The Surface Arbitrariness and the Underlying Iconicity

索绪尔认为任意性是语言符号系统的第一原则,但象似性学派认为语言符号是非任意的,两者对语言符号性质的看法形成了对立。实际上,任意性和象似性处于语言的两个层级,它们并不是相互对立的。语言的上层是语言符号运用的动态层面,是共时系统内部符号与符号的组合关系,所以是任意的;语言的底层是语言符号产生的静态层面,是从历时系统角度观察到的语言符号形成的源头和根据,所以是象似的。因此,两者谁也不能否定谁。

Saussure holds that language is fundamentally arbitrary which is contrary to the iconicity school's idea of non-arbitrary on the nature of the language symbols.In fact,the arbitrariness and iconicity are on two different language levels and they are not opposites.The surface layer is the dynamic level used by language symbols or the syntagmatic relation between symbols and signs in the synchronic system;it is arbitrary.While,the bottom layer is the static level from which the language symbols generated from diachronic perspective;it is iconic.