符号任意性问题申论

A Debate for Saussure's Principle of Arbitrariness

任意性原则是索绪尔建立其语言—符号学理论的基础。索绪尔将语言视为一个符号系统,单个符号由受指和施指结合而成,是形式结构而非物质实体,受指和施指的关系是任意的,由系统决定而无内在关联。任意性原则不仅解释了语言符号传递信息的方式,还揭示了语言对思维的整合作用。这一原则在学界引起了持续争议,这些争议表面上是索绪尔与其批判者在不同层面讨论同一问题所引起的,实质上却反映了任意性理论自身的不自洽。造成这种不自洽的根本原因是索绪尔将自然科学方法用于人文领域研究而忽视了研究对象对研究方法的决定性制约。由于语言的历史性,索绪尔对语言现象所做的形式化处理只能是思维层面的一种假设。

The arbitrariness principle is the basis of Saussure＇s linguistic-semiotics theory. Saussure regards the language as a symbolic system. A single sign is composed of signifiéand signifant,it ＇s a formal structure rather than a material entity. The relationship between thesignifié and signifant is arbitrary and is determined by the system without any internal correlation. The arbitrariness principlenot only explains howthe linguisticsign conveys informationbut also reveals the role of language in thinking.Since it has been advanced,around this principlestartedcontinuingdisputesin academia and the disputes revolve around the exceptions caused by onomatopoeia and interjection. These disputes showtwo kinds of problems. On the surface,the direct reason for these disputes is that Saussure and his critics discuss the same problemat different levels; in essence,it reflects the arbitrariness theory is not self-consistent. The root cause of this inconsistency is that Saussure uses naturalscience research methods in the humanities study and ignores thatthe research object isthe decisive constrainton the research methods. Due to the historical nature of language,Saussure＇s formalization of linguistic phenomena can only be a hypothesis of thinking.