任意性的限制:索绪尔的理性观探究

Limitation on Arbitrariness: Exploring Saussure's Rationality on Language

本文回顾了理据说和象似说对任意性的质疑,指出二者误读的根源在于没有看到索绪尔的任意性限制的观点。包括复合词、派生词、词组和整个句子在内的语言结构的任意性程度都受到组合关系和联想的关系的限制,是相对任意的或者有理据的。索绪尔的思想可以很好解释形态学和句法学问题。最后,本文提出了理据说和象似说对任意性理解的三大误区,提出任意性与理据性或象似性相互兼容的观点。

Based on a review of how the motivated view and the iconic view argue against the arbitrary view, this paper points out that the root of misinterpreting Saussure is that these two views turn a blind eye to Saussure＇ s idea of the limitation of arbi- trariness. Syntagmatic and associative relations set limitations on grammatical constructions such as compounds, derivatives, phrases and sentences; these constructions are relatively arbitrary or motivated in nature. In this sense, Saussure＂s theory can well explain morphological and syntactic phenomena. In the end, this paper proposes the three misunderstandings of Saussure, arguing for the compatibility between arbitrariness and motivatedness （or iconicity）.