《史记》中表“死”义动词共18个,它们在数量构成、应用分布、词义类型等方面极具特点。本文将从语用选择的角度,来看一看《史记》在对其中具有礼制价值的一组词语与所指对象的关系处理上所表现出的复杂状态,进而揭示司马迁颇具内涵的语言艺术,以及其中表现出的文化价值。 1、指称对象与同义词语选择的复杂状态 据《礼记》等可知,在上古时代,礼制是维持社会统治与稳定的重要形式.人的“生”被纳入严密的礼制系统中,“死”的表达也因对象的社会地位差异而 In Historical Records, there are 18 verb “dead” verbs, which are very characteristic in quantity composition, application distribution, meaning type and so on. From the perspective of pragmatic choice, this article will take a look at the complicated state of Shiji’s handling of the relationship between a group of words which have the value of the ritual and the objects they refer to, and then reveal Sima Qian’s connotation of language art , As well as the cultural value it shows. 1. The complex states of the object of reference and the choice of synonymous words According to “Book of Rites”, we can see that in ancient times, the etiquette was an important form of maintaining social rule and stability. “Human beings” were included in the strict system of etiquette, The expression of death also depends on the social status of the object