借“图”发挥:英语试卷的多模态化

Making good use of imagery:Multimodality of English test paper

语言测试历来以语言为中心内容,然而却忽视了参与表意的图像、图表等非语言符号的重要作用。本文以系统功能语言学的元功能理论和社会符号观为理论背景,通过对雅思试卷进行多模态语篇分析,指出英语书面语篇具有语言文字与图像、图表、表格等相结合的多模态特点,因此英语试卷设计应体现这一特点,重视视觉图像的运用,回归语言作为一种社会符号的本质,促进从信息单向传输到信息共建和重建的测试理念的转变,以适应多模态读写能力的要求。最后本文提出了试卷多模态化设计的框架。

Language testing has long been language-centered, neglecting the important role of non-linguistic semiotics such as diagrams and tables in meaning-making. This paper adopts Meta-function Theory and social semiotics of Systemic Functional linguistics as its theoretical background, and with a muhimodal analysis of IELTS test paper, attempts to argue that English written discourses are characteristic of integrating language with other semiotics such as diagrams, charts and tables, therefore English test paper design should reflect this feature by employing visual imagery, restoring language as a social semiotic, and promoting a shift in testing idea from one-way information transmission to information co-construction and reconstruction, so as to meet the requirement for muhimodal literacy. This paper concludes with a proposal of framework for test paper multimodality design.