中西语言的视与听及不同的思维特质

Comparing the Visual,Auditory,and Cognitive Differences between Chinese and Western Languages

中西语言文字符号的差异是客观存在的,但中西语言文字符号的同一性也是不能忽略的。西方共性语言学理论尽管在解释个性化的汉语文字符号时有说不通的地方,但语言学理论自身的普遍性不能因此而被颠覆。表意文字符号与表音文字符号之间的差异不是本质差异而是类型不同,就像同一属下不同的种一样,一个突出视觉具象功能,一个注重听觉抽象能力。前者的语言之维长于事件的再现、阐述和描绘,追求思想的言简意赅和形象的绘声绘色;后者的语言之维优于符号形式的“能指”去演算其背后的“所指”,以抽象的形式探寻事物的本质。

The differences between Chinese and Western language and cultural symbols are objectively present,but their similarities cannot be ignored either.Although Western universal linguistic theories may have difficulties in explaining personalized Chinese linguistic symbols,the universality of linguistic theories themselves should not be undermined.The disparity between ideographic characters and phonetic characters is not an essential difference but a difference in type,similar to different species within the same genus.One emphasizes visual representation,while the other focuses on auditory abstraction.The former linguistic dimension excels in representing,elaborating,and describing events,pursuing concise thoughts and vivid imagery.The latter linguistic dimension excels in using abstract forms to explore the essence of things through the analysis of underlying referents behind its symbol forms.