符号任意性理论溯源:从惠特尼到索绪尔（英文）

Retracing the Source of the Theory of Sign＇s Arbitrariness： From Whitney to Saussure

索绪尔所阐述的语言符号任意性理论可以追溯至威廉·德怀特·惠特尼。索绪尔理论的两个核心维度,即＂任意性＂和＂规约性＂,直接从惠特尼的理论中继承而来;不过,索绪尔对二者做了进一步的延伸与发展。语言符号的任意性使得语言与其他社会系统区别开来,但这种任意性仅仅适用于＂langue＂层面,而非＂langage＂层面。因此,为了使语言符号的表达层面和内容层面在理论上统一起来,索绪尔提出了＂能指＂和＂所指＂这对新的符号学范畴;而惠特尼在论述语言符号任意性时提出的语言传统的强制力量,则被索绪尔理论化为＂社会共同体＂与＂时间＂两个维度。不过,在任意性原则的影响下,语言符号还是不得不面对符号的可变性与不可变性这一悖论。尽管索绪尔的符号任意性理论与涂尔干的＂社会事实＂这一概念,在＂外在性＂和＂强制性＂等特征方面存在着相似之处,但目前还没有任何经验证据可以证明两者之间存在相互的或者单向性的影响。

The historical origins of Saussure＇s theory of the arbitrariness of linguistic signs can be traced back to William Dwight Whitney. Two core dimensions of Saussure＇s theory, namely, the arbitrary and the conventional, were taken directly from Whitney, although they were considerably enriched and further developed by Saussure. It is the arbitrariness of signs that serves to differentiate language from other social systems, and that arbitrariness is applied merely to the level of langue rather than to that of langage Saussure propounded a pair of categories, signifiant and signifie, for the theoretical unification of the linguistic sign＇s expression plane and content plane. The regulating force of tradition underlying the naturc of that sign＇s arbitrariness, considerably elaborated upon by Whitney, was formally theorised by Saussure as social community and time. Under the sway of the principle of arbitrariness, linguistic signs have to confront the paradox of immutability and mutability. Although Saussure＇s theory of the arbitrariness of signs is theoretically similar to Durkheim＇s concept of ＂social facts＂, with reference to that concept＇s features of externality and coerciveness, no empirical evidence is yet available to ascertain whether there is a mutual or unidirectional influence between them.