再论索绪尔的语言本体论——与李文新先生商榷

More on Saussure's Ontology of Language——A Discussion with Li Wenxin

索绪尔的语言本体论思想一直受到当今语言学界关注。李文新认为,社会规约和系统整体相矛盾,索绪尔的语言本体论思想不明确。基于索绪尔亲笔手稿的研究,我们对这一观点提出质疑,认为索绪尔的本体论思想十分明确。研究表明:语言和言语同等重要,规约性是语言系统的属性之一;语言整体上作为规约系统为言语实践提供各种资源手段,即语言使用者利用这个资源系统去创造意义。因此,语言系统和规约并无矛盾。

Saussure＇s thought on linguistic ontology attracts more and more attention in contemporary linguistics. Li Wenxin believes that Saussure＇s ontology of language is ambiguous because social conventions and the language system are contradictory. Based upon Saussure＇s manuscripts, this paper is intended to respond to the issues raised in Li＇s article, and to argue that Saussure＇s on- tology of language is very dear. It points out that langue and parole, in Saussure＇s view, is equally important, and conventionality is one of the attributes of language ; language as a whole provides conventional resources for language users to make meanings in the acts of parole. Hence, conventions and the language svstem are not contradictory.