从语言元功能的编码方式看英汉语本质差异

Coding Modes of Language Metafunctions and Essential Differences Between English and Chinese

系统功能语言学的元功能思想具有跨语言普适性,然而,不同语言对元功能有着不同的编码方式。从及物性与逻辑-语义角度看,较之英语,汉语小句语义配置结构更显松散,逻辑-语义关系具有不确定性;相对于英语的语法自足性,汉语语法解释多依赖于语境。从语气角度看,英语通过限定化与指称化编码语气结构,多数情况下汉语不需要类似语法手段,而是以直接融入语境的方式赋予小句人际潜势。从主述位角度看,英语主位与述位的划分较为明确,而汉语主位往往需要通过上下文来确定。不同的编码方式表明,两种语言的本质差异在于:英语为弱语境型语言,汉语为强语境型语言。在哲学思维层面,英语注重本体追问、主客二分;汉语主张天人合一、主客一体。

The thought of metafunction in Systemic Functional Linguistics is assumed to be universal in different languages,but meanwhile,each language has its own coding mode.From the perspective of transitivity and logico-semantics,the Chinese clauses,compared with the English ones,are characterized by looser semantic structure and uncertain syntactic structure.Compared with the self-sufficiency of English grammar,the interpretation of Chinese grammar relies more on semantics and context.From the perspective of mood,English encodes the mood structure by means of reference and finiteness,while Chinese does not need these overt means,but directly incorporates context to reveal interpersonal potential.From the perspective of thematic structure,English themes are relatively clear,while Chinese themes need to be further determined by context.The different coding modes indicate that the essential difference between the two languages is:English is a low-context language while Chinese is a high-context one.From the angle of philosophy,English values ontological inquiry while Chinese values the unity of man and nature,and English emphasizes the separation of subject and object while Chinese emphasizes the integration of subject and object.