对符号任意性的反思

近年来国内许多论文和论著过多地强调了语言的象似性特征而贬低索绪尔的任意性学说。实际上索绪尔的任意性与认知语言学中的象似性可以很好地统一起来。任意性是符号的一般特征,具有符号学的一般性理论意义;语言符号的任意性是一般符号任意性的一种佐证。基础语言符号是任意的,而语言的理据则体现在规则之中。符号任意性的实质在于,所指因认知方式不同而有差异,能指符号具有更大的不确定性。象似性是对任意性的有益补充,但不能取代任意性。

Arbitrariness of Signs Revisited

Recent publications in China have over-emphasized "iconicity" of linguistic signs while depreciating Saussurean arbitrariness.Arbitrariness,which can actually be very well integrated with findings of contemporary cognitive linguistic research,is here argued to be an elementary feature of signs,theoretically significant within semiotics.The arbitrariness of linguistic signs is part of the evidence of semiotic arbitrariness.Basic linguistic signs are arbitrary,while language motivation dwells in the rule system.The signified,or concept,varies with the cognitive pattern,and the signifier,i.e.linguistic sign,shows even greater variation.Iconicity is a good supplement to,instead of replacement of,the arbitrariness theory.