语言文化与身体特异性对水平空间隐喻的影响

The impact of language/culture and body specificity on horizontal spatial metaphor

为了探讨语言文化与身体特异性对具身认知的影响,本研究以60名马来西亚左、右利手的汉语学习者为被试,通过两个实验考察了他们在母语和二语加工中水平空间隐喻的特点。研究发现:(1)在汉语二语的加工中,左、右利手者都倾向于将利手一侧赋予积极意义,而将非利手一侧赋予消极意义。左、右利手者具有相反的空间隐喻联结,结果符合身体特异性假说的预测;(2)在马来母语的加工中,左利手者的联结方向发生了转变。左、右利手者具有相同的联结方向,并且这种方向同文化限制的要求相一致。本研究结果表明,水平空间隐喻受语言文化和身体特异性因素的双重影响。当文化限制较弱时,个体的水平空间隐喻联结更多受个体利手经验,即身体特异性的影响,而当文化限制较强时,人们更倾向于遵循文化定义,群体的语言文化对个体的身体反应具有调节作用。

In order to explore the impact of language/culture and body specificity on horizontal spatial metaphor,sixty Malaysian-Chinese bilinguals(L1 speakers of Malaysian)differing in handedness were tested on their horizontal spatial metaphor connection in both L1 and L2 via two experiments.The results showed that,when tested in L2,both right-handers and left-handers assigned the positive value to their convenient side,and the negative value to their inconvenient side,showing a pattern consistent to the body specificity hypothesis.However,when tested in L1 Malaysian,the value-side connection in left-handers was reversed,and thus both right-handers and left-handers assigned the positive value to the right side,and the negative value to the left side,showing a pattern consistent to Malaysian culture.The findings of the present study reveal that culture is a powerful impact factor on individuals‘horizontal spatial metaphor connection.Individuals’horizontal spatial metaphor connection can be consistent with their handedness experience(i.e.,body specificity)only when they are out of the realm of their mother culture.