语法学的发展与趋向:形式主义与功能主义

Newmeyer(2003)之观点,认为语言之使用不是改变语言结构之动因,对形式语法学者而言,极具代表性。就其中主要论证作进一步的探究,发现所举事实无法证明其论点。不过,语言之使用固然无法作为语言基本结构形成之动因,却随时都有可能对语言结构作适度之修正。目前语法学上两大思潮“功能主义”及“形式主义”之间的关系。功能与形式不但不应该对立,而且在实际上应该互补短长、相辅相成才是。

The Development and Trend of Grammar:Formalism and Functionalism

This paper takes up the contention of a leading formalist Newmeyer(2003) that usage of language does not motivate language structure.It discusses his major arguments and finds that he has not provided convincing facts to substantiate his points.On the other hand,it observes that while it is true that usage does not motivate the most basic grammatical structures of a language,usage does in many ways cause change and thus modify them.This paper goes on to examine the relationship between the two major schools of contemporary linguistic thoughts:functionalism and formalism.It concludes that they should not only be compatible with each other in theory,but complementary to each other in practice.