Etymological character is a term of traditional linguistics.The understanding and use of etymological character shows a certaindeviation in terms of modern linguistics system. There is a contradictionin the use of etymological character in traditional documents, both in itsconnotation and denotation. So the term of etymological character even in Encyclopedia of China needs to be searched out. In fact, the form of anetymological character can integrate into its meaning, and shows a kind of inner essence. Of course, the characteristics of etymological character should be followed in the study of dialect.

本字是个传统语言学术语。在现代语言学术语系统中，本字的理解和运用出现了一定偏差。传统文献中的用例使得本字的内涵和外延出现交叉甚至矛盾现象，这种情况一直没有得到理清，《中国大百科全书·语言文字卷》“本字”条仍然值得深入探讨。实际上，本字是指字形与词义有较为直接联系的字，或者说本字在字形与词义上能够统一，本字能够体现一定的造字理据。本字也有先后问题，有古本字和后起本字的区别。方言本字作为术语也不能游离于科学的本字术语之外，它必须遵循本字的基本属性。

• 吕浩(上海交通大学) | LvHao