语言基本结构特征:层次成分结构还是线性序列结构?

The basic structural property of language:Hierarchical constituent structure or linear sequential structure?

以生成语法为代表的语言理论认为层次成分结构是语言的基本结构特征。这种观点在语言结构描写中一直占据主导地位,但是,缺乏充分证据。本文将梳理语言学、认知神经科学、心理学、语言习得运算模型、语言进化研究等领域的研究成果,论证语言的基本结构特征是线性序列结构,而层次成分结构只是派生结构。从语言学的角度而言,共现频率高的单词倾向于组合成一个固化的线性序列,再与其他序列组合而形成层次结构。认知神经科学研究表明,线性序列加工和层次句法加工均受制于相同的大脑区域,而且,两种加工能力的受损相伴而生。从心理学角度看,句子加工受制于局部序列结构,线性序列加工能力影响着层次结构加工能力。语言习得模型研究显示,输入线性序列结构可以产出层次成分结构。语言进化研究也表明,语法进化由简单走向复杂,至今尚存的线性语法语言也为此提供了佐证。

Linguistic theories represented by generative grammar insist that hierarchical constituent structure is the basic structural property of language.This view has played a dominant role in the descriptions of linguistic structures,but it lacks sufficient evidence.By sorting out research achievements made in such fields as linguistics,cognitive neuroscience,psychology,computation modeling of language acquisition,and research on language evolution,this paper argues that the basic structural property of language is a linear sequential structure,and that hierarchical constituent structure is derivative.From a linguistic perspective,words co-occurring at a high frequency tend to be combined into an entrenched linear sequence,which,in turn,is combined with other sequences into a hierarchical constituent structure;cognitive neuroscience research shows that processing of linear sequences and that of hierarchical structures are both subject to the same brain areas,and that impairment of processing of one kind is concomitant to that of the other.From a psychological perspective,sentence processing is based on local sequential structures,and the ability to process linear sequences determines the ability to process hierarchical constituent structures;research on language modeling reveals that inputs of linear sequences lead to the outputs of hierarchical structures;and research on language evolution provides evidence for a progression of grammar from simplicity to complexity,with existing languages of linear grammar adding to the evidence.