第三信号概说

Introduction to the Third Signal

三种信号指的是三种不同性质的刺激物。第一信号是指由具体可感的客观物体所形成的刺激物。第二信号是指第一信号的代表,如语言文字符号所构成的刺激物。第三信号是指第二信号的代表,即由语言、文字的代表符号所组成的刺激物。三种信号意义作用各异,第一信号是由物质构成的客观物体,是人的认识对象,人的感官是由物质构成,是认识的主体,人的感官及其功能,是人类在长期认识改造客观的实践活动中,也同时改造了自身的结果。第二信号是以第一信号为基础的,有了语言文字,各民族的知识经验得以记录、积累、传递。第三信号是用简单符号代表第二信号的概念、关系、动作方式等大段文字所表述的内容。第三信号提高了信息传递速度,扩展了信息储存空间,使人脑形成了对第三信号反应的结构和功能。促进了人类的智力发展。三种信号各有作用。各自的意义作用有待进一步研究。

There are three signals referring to three various stimuli in nature.The first signal means a stimulus formed from sensible and concrete objective objects.The second signal,which represents the first one,denotes a stimulus composed of languages,their writings and signs.The third signal,which stands for the second one,implies a stimulus made up of symbols for languages and writings.None of the three signals are alike in effect and significance.The first signal,coming from objective things made of substances,is an object of human knowledge.The existence of human sense organs,bodies and their functions results from the transformation of mankind themselves as well as the cognition and transformation of objective reality over a long period of practical activities.The second signal refers to any written languages based on the first one.With them the knowledge and experience of all people can be recorded,accumulated and transmitted.The third signal expresses what is told by large blocks of text for concepts,relationships,action methods and so on in the second signal presented as simple symbols.The third signal works efficiently in information transmission extend expansively in space of information storage,enables human brains to react structually and functionally to itself and improves further in intellectual.Development of human beings.The three signals vary in effect.The former two ones are well understood.Although the third one is applied widely to various branches of learning,its concepts are put forward for the first time.Therefore,new research has yet to be done to throw light on its effect and significance.