索绪尔符号观再评价

语言符号的任意性是贯穿索绪尔语言符号学思想的一条重要原则.任意性理论的提出,并不纯粹是索绪尔本人对符号本质问题深刻反思的结果,而很大程度上得益于对其他许多非语言符号的比较.这是划分两类不同符号系统的一条重要标准.但是,索绪尔过分强调能指的形式侧面在符号结合体中的作用,相反对待号的能指侧面在物质质料构成上的特征,以及这些特征如何有助于区别开不同的符号体系这一问题,却注意不够.符号的解释主体对符号形态的认同,除了符号的所指功能外,实际上对符号的能指侧面的物质质料特征有着很大程度的偏重.这也是符号学的代码理论所要研究的重大问题.

Reflection on Saussure's Semiotic Theory

The arbitrariness of linguistic signs can be considered as the most important principle in saussurean semiotic theory. Such a theoretical principle does not only come from his keen reflection on the nature of linguistic signs,but also as a result from his comparison between linguistic signs and other non-verbal signs. Since saussure concentrates so much on the role significant form plays in the dual combination of sign units; he overlooked the material character of significant side of linguistic signs. A semiotic subject's identification with the semiotic typology of signs, in fact, highly depends on the material character a particular sign may possess at its significant level. This is also an important problem for the code theory of semiotics.