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.