语言符号的任意性和理据性

论文摘要

自从索绪尔的《普通语言学》问世以来，对于语言符号的”任意性”原则就不断有人提出争议。中外多数学者赞同索绪尔任意性的观点，而且有人走上了以任意性否认理据性的极端；而少数学者则全盘否认任意性原则，甚至有人走向了以可论证性（理据性）否认任意性的另一个极端。本文通过对索绪尔的任意性理论、皮尔斯的象似性理论和现代功能学派的理据性理论进行概念澄清和总结对比，得出任意性和理据性同时存在、他们相互补充相互依存、共同决定着语言的命运的结论。文章认为，理据性对任意性有强大的制约力。从表面上看任意性似乎有无穷的解释力，事实上，它却只能在理据性所规定的范围内运作；另一方面，承认理据性的存在并不否认任意性的重要性，因为虽然任意性受到理据性的制约，但是理据性却是以任意性为其生存条件的。正是因为有了任意性，才使语言有了广阔的选择余地，才使语言不断得以丰富和发展。因此，承认任意性或理据性，并不以牺牲对方为代价，在它们的关系问题上持左或持右的看法都是不可取的。正如王艾录等的文献出处中所总结的：任意性是一个贯穿始终的变量，它的存在支持着语言的变异性、选择性和多样性；理据性是一个普遍潜在的动因，它支持着语言的有序性、可证性和合理性，这是对索绪尔语言理论的重要补充，因而二者是协同支配语言的语言的两条同等重要的原则。

论文目录

• Abstract
• 摘要
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Debates on the Nature of Linguistic Signs
• 1.1 The Debates Before Saussure
• 1.1.1 The Naturalists vs. the Conventionists in Ancient Greece
• 1.1.2 Nomenclaturism in the Middle Ages
• 1.1.3 Leibnitz vs. Locke in 17th and 18th century
• 1.1.4 Humboldt vs. Whitney in 19th century
• 1.2 The Debates Since Saussure
• 1.2.1 The Debates Abroad
• 1.2.1.1 Views Held by Advocates of the Principle of Arbitrariness
• 1.2.1.2 Views Opposed to the Principle of Arbitrariness
• 1.2.2 The Debates at Home
• 1.2.2.1 Views Held by Advocates of the Principle of Arbitrariness
• 1.2.2.2 Views Opposed to the Principle of Arbitrariness
• Chapter 2 Clarification of the Concept of Arbitrariness
• 2.1 The Two Components of a Linguistic Sign
• 2.1.1 Saussure’s Explanation
• 2.1.2 Contemporary Linguists’ Explanations
• 2.2 Saussure’s Absolute Arbitrariness
• 2.2.1 Saussure’s Explanation
• 2.2.2 Different Explanations on Saussure’s Absolute Arbitrariness
• 2.3 Saussure’s Relative Arbitrariness
• 2.4 Factors Restricting Arbitrariness
• 2.4.1 Arbitrariness and Conventionality
• 2.4.2 Arbitrariness and Systematicity
• 2.5 The Epistemological Basis of Saussure’s Arbitrariness
• 2.6 Saussure’s Perspective on the Relation Between Language and Reality
• Chapter 3 Clarification of the Concept of Iconicity
• 3.1 Peircean Model of the Taxonomy of Signs
• 3.1.1 Symbols
• 3.1.2 Indices
• 3.1.3 Icons
• 3.2 The Classification of Icons
• 3.3 The Classification of Iconicity
• 3.3.1 Imagic Iconicity
• 3.3.2 Diagrammatic Iconicity
• 3.3.3 Metaphorical Iconicity
• Chapter 4 Clarification of the Concept of Motivation
• 4.1 Traces of Language Motivation
• 4.1.1 Considerations on Language Motivation Abroad
• 4.1.1.1 The Primeval Considerations on Motivation in Religion and Myth
• 4.1.1.2 Philosophers’ Considerations on Motivation in Ancient Greece and Rome
• 4.1.1.3 Considerations on Motivation in the European Middle Ages
• 4.1.1.4 Considerations on Motivation in the Contemporary Euramerican Linguistic Research
• 4.1.2 Considerations on Language Motivation at Home
• 4.1.2.1 Considerations on Language Motivation Before the Qin Dynasty （Before 221 B.C）
• 4.1.2.2 Considerations on Language Motivation from the Qin Dynasty（221B.C—206B.C） to the Han Dynasty （206B.C—200A.C）
• 4.1.2.3 Considerations on Motivation in the Song Dynasty （960A.C—1279A.C）
• 4.1.2.4 Considerations on Language Motivation in the Qing Dynasty （1616A.C—1911A.C）
• 4.1.2.5 Considerations on Motivation by Contemporary Linguists
• 4.2 Different Views on Language Motivation
• 4.2.1 Interpretations from Different Scholars
• 4.2.2 The Author’s Interpretation
• 4.3 A Theoretical Issue Concerning Language Motivation—Inner Form62
• 4.4 Categories of Language Motivation
• 4.4.1 Diachronic Classification of Motivation
• 4.4.1.1 Original Words and Their Motivations
• 4.4.1.2 Derivatives and Their Motivations
• 4.4.1.3 Compounds and Their Motivations
• 4.4.2 Synchronic Classification of Motivation
• 4.5 Sources of Language Motivation
• Chapter 5 Complementarity Between Arbitrariness and Motivation
• 5.1 Motivation and Iconicity
• 5.2 Arbitrariness and Iconicity
• 5.3 Arbitrariness and Motivation
• 5.3.1 The Key Points of Saussure’s Arbitrary Principle
• 5.3.2 The Key Points of the Principle of Motivation
• 5.3.3 Complementarity Between Arbitrariness and Motivation
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgements
• Resume