语言符号的任意性和象似性的重新考察

A Re-examination of the Arbitrariness and Iconicity of Linguistic Signs

自从 2 0世纪 70年代末以来 ,语言符号的任意性和象似性问题就引起不少功能主义语言学家的兴趣 ,众多研究者在索绪尔的任意性原则是否成立上有明显分歧。对于这一问题的重新考察表明 ,许多学者并没有认识到该理论的复杂性 ,没有认识到索绪尔本人也意识到了语言中广泛存在的象似性 ,尽管他并没有使用这一术语。我们认为 ,关于任意性和象似性问题的争论并无太大意义 ,因为对于语言符号系统的产生和运作来说 ,两者都是必不可少的。从对任意性原则的强调到对象似性原则的关注是语言研究范式由结构主义向功能主义 (主要是语言类型学和认知语言学 )

Since the end of 1970s,the arbitrariness and iconicity of linguistic signs have been an important concern of functional linguists. And there has been considerable disagreement among researchers on the validity of Saussure's principle of arbitrariness. This paper re-examines the key concepts involved in the controversy, including arbitrariness and iconicity, arguing that many scholars have failed to understand the full complexity of Saussure's principle of arbitrariness. It also demonstrates that Saussure himself was also aware of the ubiquitous iconicity in language though he did not use the term 'icon'or 'iconicity'. We conclude that there is not much sense to argue on the principle of arbitrariness or iconicity because both of them are essential for the linguistic system. The emphasis on the principle of iconicity at the expense of arbitrariness is a corollary of a shift of paradigm from structuralism to functionalism, including linguistic typology and cognitive linguistics.