范畴理论是非辨——认知语言学学理批判之三

A Diagnosis of the Category Theories

认知语言学以原型范畴理论为基础,与秉承经典范畴理论的生成语言学针锋相对。本文分析了范畴实质,对比了两套范畴理论的基本点,认为经典范畴理论和所谓的原型范畴理论处于不同的层次:前者以本质为鹄的,后者以现象为依托;原型固然存在却不能作为划分范畴的根据。讨论维护了经典范畴不可替代的价值,也由此指向认知语言学学理上的不足。

Based on the prototype category theory,cognitive linguistics is opposed to generative linguistics in the spirit of the classic category theory.With an analysis of the nature of categories and a comparison of the basic tenets of the two theories,this paper holds that the classic category theory and the so-called prototype category theory are on different footings： the former aims at essences and the latter falls on phenomena,and that prototypes,although existing,cannot be criteria for categories.The discussion upholds the irreplaceable value of the classic category theory while alluding to the inadequacies of cognitive linguistics.