叶斯柏森与王力“词类”和“词品”思想异同小考——基于《语法哲学》和《中国现代语法》的对比分析

A study on Word Class and Rank as developed by Otto Jespersen and introduced by Wang Li:Based on a contrastive analysis of The Philosophy of Grammar and Zhongguo Xiandai Yufa

丹麦语言学家叶斯柏森于1913年提出"三品说"概念,此后用之于其一系列语法论著,成为其语法体系的一大核心要素。我国学者王力在《中国现代语法》、《中国语法理论》中引进叶斯柏森的"三品说",并以此为基础构建现代汉语语法体系。然而,王力究竟在哪些方面引用借鉴叶斯柏森的"三品说"?我国语言学界对此缺乏深入了解,难免产生误解,甚至认为王力不加批判地全盘接受叶斯柏森的"词品"理论。本文对比分析叶斯柏森与王力各自的"词类"、"词品"等理论概念,探析语言学界何以在王力引用"三品说"理论问题上产生误解。

The Danish linguist Otto Jespersen( 1860- 1943) put forward the theory of 'Three Ranks'as early as in 1913,which has since then been applied to his subsequent grammatical works as their essence. The Chinese scholar Wang Li introduced Jespersen's theoretical construct of Rank into his two Chinese grammars,namely,Zhongguo Xiandai Yufa and Zhongguo Yufa Lilun,constructing a new frame for modern Chinese grammar with the theory of 'Three Ranks'as its foundation. Owing to a lack of serious study of the aspects Wang Li borrowed from Jespersen's theory,there has existed some misunderstanding in China's linguistic circle as concerns whether 'Wang Li has totally and uncritically accepted Jespersen's rank theory. 'This paper tries to probe into the misunderstanding of Wang Li's borrowing,based on a contrastive analysis of Word Class and Rank as developed by Jespersen and introduced by his Chinese counterpart.