【正确答案】正确答案：Saussure claims that " arbitrariness is the first important principle of linguistic signs" , which has aroused long-term debate on the philosophic issue; motivation or arbitrariness of language.(1 point) Arbitrariness is a core feature of language, which means that there is no logical connection between meanings and sounds. This feature was first discussed by Saussure. There are different levels of arbitrariness:arbitrary relationship between the sound of a morpheme and its meaning; arbitrary at the syntactic level. On the other hand, motivation refers to the analyzability and self-explanatoriness of the sign within the system. Motivations are sometimes misinterpreted as non-arbitrariness, and arbitrariness is thus denied.(1 point) In my opinion, the existence of motivation does not deny arbitrariness as they are categories of different levels and arbitrariness is more a matter of degree than one of presence or absence. To some extent, the motivation of the language sign is a strong complement to the theory of arbitrariness.(1 point) Autonomy of syntax is a presumption held by transformational generative(TG)grammar. Chomsky believes that language is made up of different subsystems or sub-modules. These subsystems are relatively dependent of each other, and syntax is especially dependent of semantics. This is called syntax autonomy. On the other hand, cognitive linguists after Chomsky hold different opinions. They think that concept and categories are all from physical experience, and they have embodied traits. Neither language nor syntax is autonomous.(2 points)

【答案解析】解析：考查所指和能指之间的任意性与理据性。乔姆斯基之前的语言学家认为，所指与能指之间是任意的，语言结构与意义之间也是任意的。认知语言学家则认为，语言的共性说明语言不完全是任意的，而是受人之环境和社会环境的制约，是有理据的。语言的任意性是个相对概念：一方面，很大程度上来说所指和能指之间没有必然联系；但另一方面，二者之间的关系在语言集体中确立以后，个人对它不能有任何改变。 考查自主与体验。乔姆斯基认为语言包括具有不同特征的子系统或子模块。这些子模块之间是相对独立的，尤其句法是独立于语义的，句法描写不涉及语义描写。句法研究要从句法内部寻求解释，这就是“句法自治论”。乔姆斯基之后的第二代语言学家则认为，概念、范畴、心智来自身体经验，具有体验性；认知具有无意识性；思维具有隐喻性，推理、语言、句法都不是自治的。