Journal of Beijing International Studies University ›› 2020, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (3): 99-112.DOI: 10.12002/j.bisu.287

• Young Scholars Forum • Previous Articles    

On the Xiang and Yi of Linguistic Representation of Chinese Characters

Li Jian1(),Wang Wenbin2()   

  1. 1. Heze University, Heze 274015, China
    2. Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing 100089, China
  • Received:2019-08-05 Online:2020-10-13 Published:2020-06-30

论汉字表征的象和意

李健1(),王文斌2()   

  1. 1.菏泽大学,菏泽 274015
    2.北京外国语大学,北京 100089
  • 作者简介:李健,菏泽学院,274015,研究方向:认知语言学、对比语言学。电子邮箱:lijianhz123@163.com|王文斌,北京外国语大学中国外语与教育研究中心/国家语言能力发展研究中心,教授,博士生导师,100089,研究方向:认知语言学、词汇语义学、语言对比与语言教育。电子邮箱:wangbode88@163.com
  • 基金资助:
    本文系国家社会科学基金重点项目“英汉时空性特质差异与英汉二语习得的关系研究”阶段性成果,同时得到“北京外国语大学北京高校高精尖学科‘外语教育学’建设项目”的支持(项目编号:18AYY003)

Abstract:

A language reflects the thinking mode of a nation who uses it. Different languages used by different nations must be branded with their different and special ways of thinking. Grounded on the idea that there exists a discrepancy between the temporal-thinking orientation of English and the spatial-thinking orientation of Chinese, this paper holds that the Chinese spatiality orientation originates from the Xiang and Yi modes of thinking in traditional Chinese philosophy, and that the deeply rooted imagery in this way of thinking gives Chinese strong imagery characteristics. Based on this view, the paper attempts to analyze Chinese characters in the following three ways: first, by making a classification of Xiang and clarifying its features; secondly, by further clarifying the characteristics of Yi which arise from Xiang; and thirdly, by analyzing Chinese characters’ structures through Liushu theory, finding that imagery thinking permeates every shu’s structures and that both such a thinking mode and Liushu’s structures are progressive and creative. This paper argues that it is the primary of imagery thinking in Chinese that determines the language’s preference for the spatial mode of thinking and the evident imagery characteristics of Chinese characters’ structures.

Keywords: Chinese characters; spatiality; imagery thinking; Xiang; Yi

摘要:

语言反映了使用者的思维模式,不同民族的语言必然带有其思维烙印,能反映特定民族的思维方式。本文立足于英汉的时空性思维差异,认为汉语的空间性思维特质来源于中国传统哲学中的象意思维,正是根植于汉民族的象意思维使汉字在表征上表现出强烈的象意化特征。基于此,本文首先通过“象”的分类明晰“象”的特征以及在“象”的基础上所形成的“意”的特征,进而通过对以六书为主的汉字构形方式进行分析,发现汉民族的象意思维渗透于汉字的各书构形,且两者层层递进、生生不息。因此,本文认为,汉民族原初的象意思维使汉语偏重于空间思维,这使得汉字在构形上具有明显的象意化特征。

关键词: 汉字, 空间性, 象意思维, 象,

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