符号的随意性:“汉字革命”论的理论偏失——从东方文化派对“汉字革命”论的批判谈起

Arbitrariness of the Sign: Theory Deviation of“Chinese Character Revolution”— on the Oriental Culture School's Criticism to“Chinese Character Revolution”

近代中国发生了至少三次旨在废除汉字的"汉字革命"运动。这些运动的发生有其特定语境与时代需求,但也有明显的理论偏失,其最主要者是盲目运用"符号的任意性"理论。错误理解语言文字的工具属性,把符号的任意性推到了随意性的极端,此其一误;机械套用进化论,将线性进化论简单编织进语文演化过程,此其二误;滥用科学标准,用自然"科学"的尺度,剪裁人文领域里的语言文字,此其三误。三种错误的根源在于其对符号—工具性的认识错谬,因此,现代中国的文化民族主义者对"汉字革命"论的批判有其合理性一面。反顾这段历史,有利于我们对中国语文乃至中国文化的未来产生更加清晰的认识。

At least three times Chinese character Revolution movement, which Aimed at the abolition of Chinese characters, occurred in modern China. Occurrence of these movements has its specific context and needs of the times, but there are obvious theoretical Deviation, among which the most prominent is the blind forthputting of the theory of arbitrariness of the sign. First, they misinterpret the tool properties of language, and push arbitrariness of the sign to the extreme; second, they mechanically apply the theory of evolution, and woven language evolution into a simple linear evolution ; again, they also misuse of scientific standards, and mistakenly as the scale of natural ＂science＂ for the use of language which belong essentially in the field of humanities. Evidently, all the source of above three errors lie in their awareness falsities to the property of symbols - tool. Standing in this perspective, the culture nationalists ＇critique to ＂Chinese Revolution＂ does have its side of rationality. Now reflection on this history will help us produce a clearer understanding of the Chinese language as well as the future of Chinese culture.