索绪尔社会语言观源考

A Genealogical Probe into Saussurean Social Perspective on Language

"语言是表现差异关系的纯粹价值系统"这一论断是索绪尔语言学理论的生命力所在,它诠释了语言作为社会制度存在的本质。然而,长时间以来索绪尔的语言社会观没有得到正确的认识,甚至是被扭曲。究其根本,索绪尔社会语言观的谱系学问题没有得到合理的解决。厘清索绪尔社会语言观的谱系学渊源,有助于正确认识索绪尔语言学理论的时代进步性和局限性。这既是对索绪尔理论的尊重,也是普通语言学健康发展的理论前提。通过对哲学史和语言学史上具有代表性的社会语言观的梳理与检视,将使这一问题的回答进一步明晰化。

The vigor of Saussurean theory lies in his statement that language is a pure social system representing difference.However,Saussure's social perspective on language has not been recognized correctly and even twisted.The cause can be ascribed to the failure to set the genealogical relations of Saussure's social perspective on language right.A proper solution to the problem will be conducive to knowing the merits and demerits of Saussurean theory,which is also the theoretical requisite of general linguistics.This issue will be clarified by examining respective social perspectives on language in both pre-Saussure periods and Saussure period.