中英思维与语言比较.docVIP

中英思维与语言比较 The Relation between Thought and Language The opinions vary on the relationship between language and thought although the studies on it have been lasted for over 2000 years. To sum up, there are five parlances, i.e. theory of equation of language and thought, language determinism, and thought determinism, independent language-thought theory, and separate-combinative theory. Theory of equation of language and thought: Language and thought are two names of the same thing. They are produced simultaneously, in which thought is silent language, and language is the voiced thought. Determinism: Language characteristics play a determined role in the process of cognition. Language is the basis of thought, and various languages lead to various thought and world outlook. Thought determinism: Thought exists before language; the category of thought determines that of language. It is thought that first comes into humans mind, and then people can speak it out by means of appropriate words or other symbols. Independent language-thought theory: Language and thought are relatively independent. There are various kinds of knowledge in human world, and the process of acquiring natural language is unique which is restricted to special theories, principles and rules. Whereas, the other knowledge is acquired through observation, generalization and conditioned reflex, etc. Many examples can prove the existence of thought systems which is independent of language. Separate-combinative theory: Both language and thought have its separate source. From the perspective of polygenetic development, different language and thought hold different genetic source; meanwhile, their development is not parallel, whose development curve often intersect. In terms of development of individuals, the development of thought and language enters a stage of concourse (合流 ) and form a new kind of behavior pattern only when the baby grows to age two. In a word, language and thought have d