摘要
词语的形式与意义之间没有必然的联系,它们之间的关系是约定俗成的——这就是现代语言学原则之一:词语的无理据性(non-motivation)。词语的无理据性可以从共时性、历时性和泛时性的角度得到证明。一、共时性:英语中/tri:/不一定指,“树”,也可以是“鞋楦”;二、历时性:古英语中对“树”的称呼并不是/tri:/只是到了中古英语之后,指树的词才是/tri:/;三、泛时性:同样是“树”,英语用/tri;/,法语用/arbr/(arbre),等等。
Assuming that the proportion of transparent and opaque words varies from language to language,this essay argues that the Chinese lexicon contains more transparent words,and therefore is moremotivated than the English language.It then explores the causes of this difference from morphological,etymological and orthographical angles.The different degrees of motivation of the two languages,theessay suggests,determines their very dissimilar treatment of foreign words.The essay finally proposesthat the relative strong motivation of Chinese should be turned to good account in the teaching ofChinese as a foreign language.
出处
《外国语》
1988年第6期3-6,共4页
Journal of Foreign Languages
