语言的象似性及其在二语习得中的作用

Iconicity in Language and Its Functions in Second Language Acquisition

语言的象似性是相对于语言的任意性的一个概念特征,是认知语言学的一个重要的理论课题。一直以来,语言学中占统治地位的学说都认为语言符号是任意的,偶然出现的相似只是低层次的,不足以引起重视的。但随着认知语言学的产生与发展,众多认知语言学家对这个观点提出了质疑,并且研究得出了一套较完善的象似性理论。了解语言在语音、词汇、句法及语篇上的象似性有着很突出的方法论意义,这尤其体现在二语习得过程中。通过掌握认知在语言规则中起的作用可以让语言学习者更有理据地学习,更有效率地学习。同时让学习者在习得词汇、句法、诗歌语篇等过程中提高了语言敏感性和认知能力。

Iconicity of language is a conceptual characteristic that is relative to arbitrariness of language. It is one of the important topics in cognitive linguistics. That the linguistic symbols are arbitrary has dominated in linguistics for a very long time. They con?sidered that accidental occurrence of iconicity is low-leveled and needs no attention. However, as the development of cognitive linguistics, a number of cognitive linguists cast doubt on this view, and worked out a set of relatively well-developed theories. Knowing the iconicity in phonetics, vocabulary, syntax and discourse is methodologically meaningful, especially in the process of second language acquisition. By managing the functions of cognition in language rules may help the language learners learn more motivatedly and efficiently. Meanwhile, it improves the language sensitivity and cognitive capability of the learners in acquiring the vocabulary, syntax and poetic lyrics.