语言起源问题刍议：内涵呈现、视角对立及理念升维

Ruminations on the Problem of Language Origin: Presentation of Connotation, Opposition of Perspectives, and Sublimation of Idea

摘要: 语言起源是一项悬而未决的重大课题，现已取得丰硕成果，但仍然留有一定的研究空间。据此，本文结合前贤研究探讨了人类语言的起源问题。研究发现：第一，在语言学、人类学及哲学共同视域下，语言起源的内涵需要考究语言的定义、语言起源的条件、语言起源的具体过程等问题。第二，学界存在丰富的语言起源假说，部分假说之间在本质内容上有所重合；此外，多数语言起源假说的内在性预设倾向从语言的交际功能层面界定了语言；尽管语言起源假说普遍缺乏实证材料，但依然存在相应的研究参考价值。第三，一源论与多源论的对立，渐变论与突变论的对立是语言起源研究中形成的两组视角对立。第四，深化语言起源研究亟需在研究意识、研究性质及研究平台等多个层面进行理念升维。首先，语言起源有其成为学术问题的必要性和科学性，学界需要为其树立高度的问题意识；其次，语言起源问题具有鲜明的跨学科研究性质，相关研究必须注重和加强跨学科合作；最后，在未来的语言起源研究中，理应不断夯实演化语言学这一最新研究平台。

Abstract: The origin of language is still a major unresolved issue, although fruitful results have been achieved, but still leaves a certain amount of research space. Accordingly, this paper discusses the origin of human language in the light of previous research. It is found that, firstly, in the linguistic, anthropological and philosophical perspectives, the connotation of the origin of language needs to be examined in terms of the definition of language, the conditions of the origin of language, the specific process of the origin of language, and so on. Secondly, there are abundant hypotheses on the origin of language in the academic world, and some of them overlap with each other in terms of essential content; moreover, the intrinsic presuppositions of the hypotheses on the origin of language mostly define language at the level of the communicative function of language; and despite the fact that the hypotheses on the origin of language are generally lacking in empirical materials, they still have the corresponding reference value for research. Thirdly, there are two opposites in the study of language origin, one is the opposition between the one-source theory and the multi-source theory, and the other is the opposition between the Gradualism and the Mutationism. Fourthly, deepening research on the origin of languages urgently requires conceptual upgrading at multiple levels, including research awareness, research nature and research platforms. In the first place, the origin of language has its own necessity and scientific nature as an academic issue, for which the academic community needs to establish a high degree of problem awareness; in the second place, the issue of the origin of language has a distinctive interdisciplinary nature, and the relevant research must pay attention to and strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation; and lastly, in the future research on the origin of language, it is reasonable to continuously consolidate the newest research platform, which is the evolutionary linguistics.