從三個因素看禪義成語的形成與發展

An Analysis of the Three Factors in the Formation and Development of Zen Idioms

禪宗典籍有豐富的禪義成語，成語如何在字面義的基礎上形成禪義、該禪義成語後續會如何演變，詞語的生滅環節是歷時研究的重點，目前可知有多種因素會影響語義的加工，本文從「語義透明度」、「語境」、「熟悉度」三因素觀察禪義成語的形成與發展，利用「熟語激活模式」解釋成語生成禪義的可能性。本文發現三個因素對成語生滅發揮的影響力不同，就形成禪義而言，三者均有正面影響，主導成語繼續開展或沒落的因素應是「透明度」。「透明度」是成語的內在條件，透明度高，禪義容易理解，其影響力較強，貫串整個生滅過程。「語境」與「熟悉度」屬外在條件，對形成與穩固禪義有加乘作用，缺乏兩者，禪義會難以理解與傳遞。

The Zen Buddhist literature is abundant with Zen idioms. Studies in the past have focused on three aspects: How do the idioms gain Zen significance? How do the idioms develop and evolve? What are the factors that determine the continuation or elimination of existing idioms? A variety of factors have been identified to have an influence on semantic processing. This paper examines the formation and development of Zen idioms using three factors: semantic transparency, context, and familiarity, and employs an idiomatic activation-set in an attempt to explain how Zen significance originates from idioms. This paper discovers that the three factors have varying degrees of influence on the continuation or elimination of idioms. All three factors have a positive influence on the formation of Zen significance. Transparency is the main contributor in the continuation or elimination of idioms. It is an intrinsic property of idioms: higher transparency results in an easier understanding of Zen significance and a stronger influence. It remains present throughout the entire process of continuation or elimination. Context and familiarity are extrinsic properties, and have synergistic effects on the formation and stabilization of Zen significance. Their absence leads to difficulties in the understanding and communication of Zen significance.