副语言的手势层面分析——以摊手为例

The Analysis of Gestural System of the Paralanguage: with the Example of Palm-up

目前语言多模态的研究很少涉及对副语言中具体手势的研究。本文从副语言的手势层面,以摊手为例,基于自然搜集法搜集到的汉语普通话多模态语料,利用标注工具,结合定性和定量的研究方法,对摊手这一手势的结构及功能进行全面分析。初步认为中国摊手按其结构可分三类,其功能各有侧重。第一类摊手(摊手1)承担纯副语言的功能,即伴言(co-speech)功能,这类手势只能伴随口语一起发生。第二类摊手(摊手2)作为象征手势,具备独立表意功能,可表否定、无奈或强调。第三类摊手(摊手3)似乎介于两者之间伴言功能兼有一定语用意义(如示意交出话轮),这种模糊象征义,体现如"邀请"。摊手这一手势的语义获得,源于人类的认知机制,与有声语言的认知机制相似。

Currently,the multimodal researches rarely involves into the gestures in paralanguage. This paper collects and labels the multimodal materials from Chinese mandarin based on naturalistic methodolgy. Then it adopts the quantified and qualified research methods to analyze the gesture of palm-up( PU) among the Chinese people. It is found that there are three types of palm-up according to its forms and functions. The first type( Palmup1)is a representational sign,which always accompanie the speech. The second and the third type( Palmp-up2 and Palm-up3) are symbolic signs,which challenge the simple classification of a specific gestural sign. To be specific,PU1 derives its meanings from'empty',PU2 means'give or take',and PU3 seems to be in between.It is argued that the meanings of PU are derived from the cognitive mechanism of human beings which is similar to that of spoken languages.