跨语言同词化数据库与词汇类型学研究

Database of Cross⁃Linguistic Colexifications and the Studies of Lexical Typology

同词化指两义或者多义寄于一形的共时词汇现象,主要包括同音词和多义词。跨语言普遍存在的同词化模式,在定名层面的范畴化、符意层面的语义演变方面均具有重要的类型学意义。专为研究同词化而设的跨语言同词化数据库(Database of Cross-Linguistic Colexifications,简称CLICS),目前已升级到第三版(CLICS3),但国内尚未充分重视,未见重大成果产出。本文将从三个方面介绍该数据库:1)概况及其发展:数据库的开发团队及其在数据库规模等三个方面的改进;2)研究对象及其原理,表明该数据库的研究对象实为多义词,该数据库之实现,一是使跨语言词汇比较成为可能,二是使同词化现象可量化为数据;3)框架、功能及其实现,主要涉及同词化图的实现形式和功能。我们相信,CLICS3引入国内语言学界,必将为汉语语义演变研究提供更多的跨语言材料,并在世界语言变异范围内发现汉语语义演变共相和殊相的研究中发挥无可替代的作用。

Colexification,which is ubiquitous across languages,has important typological significance in terms of categorization at the onomasiological level and of semantic change at the semasiological level.The Database of Cross⁃Linguistic Colexations(CLICS),specifically designed for the study of colexification,has been upgraded to the third version(CLICS3).However,Chinese scholars have not yet paid sufficient attention to the update,and have not produced significant publications thereupon.This article will introduce the database from three aspects:1)An overview of the database and its developments;2)The research object and its principle which indicate that this database helps compare vocabulary across languages and that the phenomenon of colexification can be quantified as data;3)The framework,functions,and its implementation focusing on the Infomap graph and subgraph.We believe that the introduction of CLICS3 into the domestic community of Chinese linguistics will provide more cross⁃linguistic materials for the study of Chinese semantic change,and play an irreplaceable role in the study of Chinese semantic change in the context of world language variation.