回溯语(retronym)是在一个名词前加上原本冗余的修饰语而构成的特殊复合结构,如"纸质书"。回溯性为语言演进尤其是词义演变提供了一个新的证据。本文探讨回溯语的源起及其组构类型,以类典型的迁移和裂变为切入点,对其进行深入分析,从而揭示世界认知语言三者之间错综的交互关系。结论如下:1)自然物品本身变化相对不大,其范畴相对稳定;2)回溯性通常只限于人造物品范畴,具体发生在原类典型变迁过程中;3)与回溯性相关的次范畴化提示整个范畴的扩张;4)类典型变迁并稳定下来,人们对范畴内的新配置渐渐熟悉后,回溯性会被淡忘;5)因此,从历时来看,回溯性并非范畴化的常态,而是过渡性的;6)回溯语的出现为观察科学技术的飞速发展和人类文明的演进提供了一个新的观察窗口。

A retronym is a special compounding construction in the form of a noun with an unnecessary modifier, as in "paper book".It provides new evidence for language evolution,especially lexical semantic change. This paper explores the origin and compositions of the construction and, by focusing on prototype shift and split, makes an in-depth analysis of the complex interactions between the world, cognition and language. Our research shows: (1) as natural objects do not change abruptly, their categories tend to remain stable; (2) retronymy usually occurs in artificial object categories and it does so during the process of prototype shift; (3) the sub-categorization in relation to retronymy indicates an expansion of the whole category in question; (4) after a prototype shift in a category with its subcategories well rearranged and understood,a new prototype stability is reached and the retronymy dissolves; (5) therefore,diachronically,retronymy,which occurs only in a prototype shift, is not a permanent trait; and (6) retronymy provides a new window onto the fast development of modern science and technology and the evolution of human civilization.

国家社会科学规划基金项目(09BYY020)的资助