The Arbitrariness and Iconicity of Linguistic Signs and Its Illumination in ELT

The arbitrariness of linguistic signs has long been controversial in academic circles both at home and abroad.In recent years,with the development of iconicity,some scholars begin to de-emphasize or reject the existence of semiotic arbitrariness to over-emphasize or assert the existence of semiotic iconicity.The author of this paper,however,holds that this view is harmful to the understanding of the relationship between the arbitrariness and iconicity of linguistic signs,and advocates,through an analysis of their relationship approached from the theory of self-organization and prototype theory,that the relationship between the arbitrariness and iconicity of linguistic signs is dialectic.The theory of iconicity is firmly based on the theory of arbitrariness and both theories can exist within the same unity,which,seeming opposing,are complementary to each other.In addition,the realization of the dialectic relationship between the arbitrariness and iconicity of linguistic signs is of great pragmatic significance in ELT,which can make English language teaching and learning much more meaningful.