Considerations on Arbitrariness vs Non-arbitrariness of Linguistic Sign

Abstract

This article focuses on issues related to the arbitrary and non-arbitrary nature of the linguistic signs (monolexical and polylexical), the types and cases of linguistic motivation and the criteria of lexical denomination. Several issues regarding to stable polylexical units have been analysed from the motivational perspective: the genesis, existence and use of linguistic signs, whose signifiers are expressed by stable polylexical units, two types of semantic motivation (metaphorical motivation and symbol-based motivation) and intertextuality as a specific type of motivation. In the course of its history, each figurative expression has undergone its own evolution. In this context, the task of linguistic research is not only to identify the productive motivational links that affect the functioning of figurative expressions in actual discourse, but also to describe their true etymology.

Keywords

• linguistic motivation
• inner form
• linguistic sign
• signifier
• signified
• types of motivation
• stable polylexical unit