语言符号的任意性问题一直存在诸多争议,尤其受到来自认知语言学象似性等语言现象的挑战。文章从语言系统的可行性方面论述了任意性的必要性,具体而言,能指和所指的匹配关系具有任意性,语言符号编码过程中能指范畴化具有相对任意性,所指范畴化也有相对任意性。能指范畴化的相对性和所指范畴化的相对任意性是语言相对性的基石,由于语言相对性和认知相对性有关系,任意性原则也是认知相对性的必要基石。
Some linguists argue that the arbitrariness of linguistic signs is not universal but assume that iconicity is one of the fundamental properties of language. Nevertheless, recent studies have demonstrated that different sequences of sounds can be used to express similar concepts. This research focuses on the necessity of arbitrariness to the feasibility of linguistic sign system. It is held that the categorization of signifier and signified in the coding process has the property of relative arbitrariness, which is the foundation of cognitive relativity.