A Brief Account of the Study on the Arbitrariness and Iconicity of the Linguistic Sign

Since Saussure proposed the arbitrariness of the linguistic sign,numerous experts at home and abroad has been debating on whether the basic nature of the linguistic sign is arbitrary or iconic through holding their views.In general,there exist two different views:one holding that the the basic nature of the linguistic sign is arbitrary while another the basic nature of the linguistic sign is iconic.This essay aims at further helping to recognize the nature of the linguistic sign by making a brief account of the those two views,the philosophical background of the birth of the two natures and their dialectical relation.