THE SYMBOL CONCEPT Anthropology （象征人类学概念）.pdf

Comp. by: PG2846 Stage : Proof ChapterID: 0001277655 Date:23/4/11 Time:12:25:58 Filepath:d:/womat-filecopy/0001277655.3D OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – FIRST PROOF, 23/4/2011, SPi c h a p t e r 4 3 THE SYMBOL CONCEPT terrence w. deacon 43 .1 INTRODUCTION The term symbol derives from the Greek stem of ballein ‘to throw’ and syn ‘together’. This etymology characterizes the way that words are forced into correspondence with ideas and their physical referents irrespective of any natural affinities. Through- out philosophical history, the term ‘symbol’ is almost exclusively applied to spoken utterances, inscriptions, or other culturally generated meaningful artefacts and actions created specifically for representational purposes. These cultural phenomena include talismans, ritual performances, religious relics, military insignias, spoken words, and typographical characters, among innumerable other forms. In contrast, a cough is generally referred to as a sign of a respiratory infection, not a symbol, and portraits are generally described as depicting people, not symbolizing them. These latter are signs that represent by virtue of some ‘natural affinity’, irrespective of human cultural intervention. Symbolic reference contrasts with two other categories of signs. Iconic reference is employed in pantomime and simple depiction. Indexical reference is employed in poin