梁露堯 李輝
【摘要】本文通過(guò)梳理相關(guān)文獻(xiàn),分析前語(yǔ)言期兒童溝通姿勢(shì)(即手勢(shì))的定義、類(lèi)型及其與語(yǔ)言發(fā)展的關(guān)系。研究者據(jù)此建議,應(yīng)當(dāng)及時(shí)并有針對(duì)性地反饋兒童基于手勢(shì)發(fā)出的溝通信號(hào)。
【關(guān)鍵詞】前語(yǔ)言期;兒童;溝通姿勢(shì);手勢(shì);非語(yǔ)言溝通
【中圖分類(lèi)號(hào)】G610? ?【文獻(xiàn)標(biāo)識(shí)碼】A? ?【文章編號(hào)】1004-4604(2019)7/8-0074-04
語(yǔ)言是人類(lèi)進(jìn)行信息交流、思想溝通的重要媒介。雖然其他物種,如蜜蜂、猴子等會(huì)通過(guò)舞姿、尖叫聲等與同伴交流,但人類(lèi)語(yǔ)言因其具備自反性(即憑借語(yǔ)言反思、分析語(yǔ)言本身)、遷移性(即使用語(yǔ)言描述非當(dāng)下存在的事物)、創(chuàng)造性(即使用語(yǔ)言描述新事物)等而能傳達(dá)更豐富、明確的思想內(nèi)容?!?〕個(gè)體是在不同情境的社會(huì)交往中逐步習(xí)得與完善語(yǔ)言能力的,大量研究針對(duì)個(gè)體不同階段的語(yǔ)言發(fā)展特點(diǎn)作了深入探討。本文重點(diǎn)聚焦處于語(yǔ)言發(fā)展初期的前語(yǔ)言期兒童,對(duì)有關(guān)其所依靠的重要非語(yǔ)言溝通方式(nonverbal communication)——溝通姿勢(shì)(communicative gesture)的研究作一梳理,供相關(guān)人員參考。
一、前語(yǔ)言期兒童溝通姿勢(shì)的定義及類(lèi)型
前語(yǔ)言期(pre-linguistic stage)指從兒童出生到其產(chǎn)生第一個(gè)有意義的詞之前這一時(shí)期,通常為12~13月齡之前的階段?!?〕在該階段,兒童雖無(wú)法使用口頭語(yǔ)言與他人交流,但已可以通過(guò)多種前語(yǔ)言行為(pre-linguistic behaviours),如咿呀語(yǔ)(babbling)、哭喊(crying)、面部表情(facial expression)、身體語(yǔ)言(body language)等傳遞意圖、表達(dá)情感、提出要求等。一項(xiàng)研究顯示,嬰兒發(fā)出的無(wú)意義話語(yǔ)已經(jīng)可以向成人傳達(dá)要求、抗議、問(wèn)候等信息?!?〕可見(jiàn),前語(yǔ)言期兒童在同成人(以父母為主)的交流中并非總是扮演被動(dòng)角色,其多種前語(yǔ)言行為為與成人有效溝通創(chuàng)造了可能。
溝通姿勢(shì)是個(gè)體發(fā)展較早、被研究較多的非語(yǔ)言溝通方式之一。廣義上講,溝通姿勢(shì)指用于傳達(dá)溝通意圖的各種身體動(dòng)作,通常包含手部、手臂、面部、身體其他部位或全身的運(yùn)動(dòng)?!?,5〕本文中的溝通姿勢(shì)專(zhuān)指手部溝通動(dòng)作,也稱溝通手勢(shì)(簡(jiǎn)稱手勢(shì))。貝茨(Bates)等人指出,10月齡的兒童已經(jīng)可以通過(guò)手勢(shì)與外界溝通。〔6,7〕另有一種觀點(diǎn)認(rèn)為,手勢(shì)是在個(gè)體語(yǔ)言發(fā)展初期出現(xiàn)的用于替代其無(wú)法說(shuō)出的詞匯、句子的符號(hào)系統(tǒng),在個(gè)體順利習(xí)得本族語(yǔ)言后即不復(fù)存在。該觀點(diǎn)無(wú)法解釋為何在成年人的交往中,手勢(shì)仍經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)并發(fā)揮重要的輔助溝通功能。近十年的神經(jīng)認(rèn)知科學(xué)研究表明,人腦中的手勢(shì)與語(yǔ)言功能區(qū)存在共享的神經(jīng)基質(zhì),〔8〕兩者在個(gè)體語(yǔ)言發(fā)展的各階段均呈現(xiàn)出相互影響的特點(diǎn)?!?〕對(duì)前語(yǔ)言期兒童來(lái)說(shuō),手勢(shì)除起信息溝通之用外,還有助于其通過(guò)與環(huán)境互動(dòng)獲得學(xué)習(xí)機(jī)會(huì),進(jìn)而促進(jìn)其認(rèn)知、語(yǔ)言等的全面發(fā)展。
手勢(shì)類(lèi)型大致可分為以下三類(lèi)。指示性手勢(shì)(deictic gesture)指溝通者利用手部動(dòng)作(如伸出單根手指、伸展手掌等)從周?chē)h(huán)境中明確指出需要對(duì)話參與者關(guān)注的目標(biāo)參照物,可細(xì)分為指示手勢(shì)(pointing)、呈現(xiàn)手勢(shì)(showing)、給予手勢(shì)(giving)等。例如,兒童伸出食指指向某物或?qū)⒛澄锱e起,引發(fā)父母對(duì)該物的關(guān)注。這類(lèi)手勢(shì)是兒童1歲前主要依賴的非語(yǔ)言溝通方式,是兒童進(jìn)行有意圖交流的早期標(biāo)志。〔10,11〕象征性手勢(shì)(representational gesture)的作用不在于引發(fā)對(duì)話參與者的關(guān)注,而在于傳遞、交流信息。象征性手勢(shì)可細(xì)分為習(xí)用手勢(shì)(conventional gesture or gesture routine)和圖示手勢(shì)(iconic gesture)。前者指在特定社交情境中被大多數(shù)人接受和慣用的手勢(shì),用以傳遞約定俗成的溝通信號(hào),如揮手示意告別;后者則指用以呈現(xiàn)人、事、物形態(tài)或功能的手勢(shì),如以雙手上下舞動(dòng)表示小鳥(niǎo)飛翔?!?2〕物件關(guān)聯(lián)手勢(shì)(object-related gesture or object gesture)是指溝通者借助他物完成的手部動(dòng)作,主要用以演示憑借物的功能。例如,兒童手握湯匙做出喝湯的動(dòng)作,或?qū)⑼婢呤謾C(jī)放至耳邊作打電話狀。該類(lèi)手勢(shì)的出現(xiàn)說(shuō)明兒童開(kāi)始理解周?chē)挛?,并出現(xiàn)模仿行為。
此外,貝茨等人曾從溝通意圖角度將前語(yǔ)言期兒童手勢(shì)整合為兩類(lèi):原始祈使手勢(shì)(proto-imperative)和原始陳述手勢(shì)(proto-declarative)。〔13〕前者用于尋求對(duì)話參與者的幫助以獲取某物,后者用于提醒對(duì)話參與者注意某物。
二、前語(yǔ)言期兒童溝通姿勢(shì)與語(yǔ)言發(fā)展的關(guān)系
前語(yǔ)言期兒童對(duì)溝通姿勢(shì),即手勢(shì)的掌握體現(xiàn)為兩方面:理解他人手勢(shì)和使用手勢(shì)達(dá)成溝通意圖。大量研究表明,上述兩方面能力均與兒童語(yǔ)言發(fā)展具有相關(guān)性。例如,在麥克格雷果(Mcgregor)等人的研究中,2歲前兒童被分為三組分別接受不同指導(dǎo)模式的詞匯學(xué)習(xí):實(shí)驗(yàn)組一接受“口述新詞+手勢(shì)示范”指導(dǎo),實(shí)驗(yàn)組二接受“口述新詞+手勢(shì)靜態(tài)圖演示”指導(dǎo),對(duì)照組只接受口頭指導(dǎo)。后測(cè)結(jié)果表明,相對(duì)于實(shí)驗(yàn)組二和對(duì)照組,實(shí)驗(yàn)組一的兒童對(duì)新詞的理解最深入?!?4〕這說(shuō)明兒童對(duì)手勢(shì)的辨識(shí)可以強(qiáng)化其對(duì)陌生詞匯的理解??屏_內(nèi)斯(Colonnesi)等人發(fā)現(xiàn),手勢(shì)與語(yǔ)言發(fā)展之間在同期和長(zhǎng)期關(guān)系上均存在顯著相關(guān)性,〔15〕具體體現(xiàn)為手勢(shì)對(duì)語(yǔ)言發(fā)展的先導(dǎo)性和預(yù)測(cè)性。
1.先導(dǎo)性
艾佛森(Iverson)和戈?duì)柖?梅多(Goldin-Meadow)通過(guò)跟蹤記錄10名前語(yǔ)言期兒童的手勢(shì)和語(yǔ)言發(fā)展?fàn)顩r發(fā)現(xiàn),在10~24月齡的觀察周期內(nèi),兒童曾以手勢(shì)表示的詞匯更傾向于出現(xiàn)在3個(gè)月后的口頭語(yǔ)言中,相反方向的遷移(即出現(xiàn)在口頭語(yǔ)言中的詞匯轉(zhuǎn)為僅由手勢(shì)表示)卻相對(duì)較少出現(xiàn)?!?6〕卡皮爾茲(Capirci)等人發(fā)現(xiàn),兒童使用“手勢(shì)-詞語(yǔ)”組合(gesture-word combination)先于其在口頭語(yǔ)言中使用相應(yīng)的雙字詞組 (two-word combination)?!?7〕由此可知,前語(yǔ)言期兒童更可能先習(xí)得手勢(shì),后習(xí)得詞匯表征。有關(guān)前者對(duì)后者的促進(jìn)作用在下文諸多研究中得到了進(jìn)一步證實(shí)。
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A Critical Review of Researches on Childrens Communicative Gesture in Pre-linguistic Stage
Liang Luyao, Li Hui
(Macquarie University, Australia)
【Abstract】By reviewing related literature, this paper analyzes the definition and types of childrens communicative gesture (abbreviated as gesture) in pre-linguistic stage and its relationship with language development. It is, therefore, important to provide timely and targeted responses to childrens gesture for communication.
【Keywords】pre-linguistic stage; children; communicative gesture; gesture; nonverbal communication