幼童话语符号——多模态意义模块建构探索

Exploration on the Construction of Multimodal Semantic Module in Child Discourse

对从出生至9个月的幼儿语义发展进行个案研究,并以系统功能语言学的社会符号学理论为基础,建构了一个语义单位——多模态意义模块,将其作为早期儿童语言中最基本的表意符号。通过实例分析发现,多模态意义模块是一种过渡性社会符号,由协同表意的声音、面部表情和肢体语言体现,是婴儿表达意义的基本单位,在早期儿童语言中可独立成篇,也可组合成篇,具有模态协同性、符号性、典型性、交际性、社会性和过渡性等特点,与成人语言中不同模态的信息承载比例有很大的相似性。希望本研究能够对儿童前期交际模式的建立和演化、儿童语言向成人语言的过渡以及成人语言系统的多模态特性等研究有一定启示。

Based on the theory of social semiotics in systemic functional linguistics, this paper makes a case study of a baby from birth to 9 months old. As the basic semantic unit in early normal child language development, multimodal semantic module(MMSM) is a transitional social semiotic realized by the synergy of sound, facial expression and body movements. It can be represented independently as a text or part of a text, and it has the features of modal synergy, semioticity, typicality, interactivity, sociality and transitionality. The mode distribution of MMSM is similar to that in adult language. We hope the results of the study can shed light on the emergence and development of early child discourse, the transition from child language to adult language and the multimodal nature of adult language system.