现象意义与词汇习得

Phenomenal Meaning and Vocabulary Learning

基于近年有关现象意义的研究探讨感觉词汇的习得问题,可以从经验主义的角度为词汇学习的研究提供一个新的视角。现象意义指语言使用者在使用感觉词汇时对相关感觉经验之现象属性的心理表征。研究表明①感觉词汇的习得应该包括现象意义的习得,②现象意义具有象然性、言不尽意和多模态性等特征,③而且这些特征对感觉词汇的学习都有着直接而且重要的影响。换言之,现象意义的习得是词汇深度知识的有机组成部分,有助于学习者更加确切地理解和使用感觉词汇。

Based on the recent studies on phenomenal meaning,the present paper aims to provide a new empirical perspective for vocabulary learning.In general,phenomenal meaning,a concept based on the distinction in the philosophy of mind between phenomenal properties and physical properties,refers to the language user's mental representation of relevant phenomenal properties of sensory experience when he or she uses an experiential word.Studies have shown that(1) acquisition of experiential words should involve acquisition of their phenomenal meaning,(2) phenomenal meaning is characterized by its what-it-is-likeness,ineffability and multimodality,(3) all of them have direct and essential impacts on the learning of experiential words.In other words,acquiring phenomenal meaning is part and parcel of the depth of word knowledge,which enables learners to understand and use experiential words more accurately.