论汉语信息编码的基本结构单位“字”

On the Basic Structural Unit zi (字) in the Information Coding of Chinese

汉语的基本结构单位是"字",处在底层表音系统和上层表意系统的界面,可定义为"由一个带调单音节所构成的具有完整、离散性的语音形式,在汉语语言系统中能发挥区别性的价值功能,是一个具有社会心理现实性和现成性的关联符号单位"。汉语中还存在一个由"字"为基本结构单位构成的以双音节字组为核心的典型性缓冲结构层,起到了二次编码的作用,有效地解决了汉语中有限语音形式表达无限概念的矛盾。汉语中缓冲结构层的存在使其难以用普通语言学理论所认为的人类语言具有三个结构层的理论加以准确描绘。"字"使汉语成为了汉语。

The basic structural unit in Chinese is zi （字） which lies between the interface of phonology and meaning. It can be defined as an integral and discrete phonological form governed by the tone, playing differential role, which is a symbolic unit with social psychological reality in the system of Chinese language. In Chinese, there also exists a characteristic buffer layer structure being composed of zi groups, the overwhelming majority of which are those of two zi. The buffer layer structure performs the function of the secondary coding, effectively solving the problem that the finite number of phonological forms in Chinese expresses an infinite set of meanings. This trait distinguishes Chinese from most other human languages found so far which are considered to possess three structural levels. In a word, zi enables Chinese to be what it is today.