语言人类学中的结构与能动

在把语言当作文化资源和文化实践的语言人类学中,语言就是一种行动的方式,人们用语言做事情。语言还能反映群体和个人的分类方式和思维特征,反映他们的情感和价值观。一方面,语言作为历史的沉淀,折射社会文化结构,并具备自身的结构,能够指导和影响人们的思维和行动。另一方面,语言在被运用的实践过程中,群体和个人的力量又构成能动性,反过来对语言结构形成冲击,甚至改变语言。事实上,结构与能动并不能截然分开,而是一种互动的关系。

Structure and Agency in Linguistic Anthropology

In linguistic anthropology,language is taken as cultural resources and cultural practice.As such,language is a mode of action,that is,people use language to do things.Language also reflects modes of classification,thinking features,emotions,and values of individuals and groups.On the one hand,language,as historical sediments with its own structure,reflects the structure of society and culture,guiding and influencing people’s thinking and actions.On the other hand,individuals and groups also perform agency when using language in practice.The power of agency can form an impact on language structure,and even lead to some transformation of language.In fact,structure and agency cannot be clearly divided,instead,they are interactional.