The Effect of Time Metaphor on Semantic Processing of Chinese Verbs

Abstract

Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to investigate relationships between time metaphor and duration of verbs. Since Chinese speakers regard time as a flowing river, horizontal length rather than vertical height was chosen as the spatial factor that affects verb duration. Words used as stimulus were horizontally contracted or stretched(80% or 200%). In experiment 1, verbs were displayed in pairs on the left and right of the screen respectively. Participants were instructed to judge which verb took longer time to complete. The results showed that semantic processing was inhibited in the duration-length inconsistent condition rather than duration-length consistent condition. In experiment 2, participants were asked to judge whether the word displayed in the center of the screen was a verb or not. Again response to duration-length consistent condition was faster and more precise than inconsistent condition. Besides, experiment 2 showed verbs with longer duration took longer time to process. In conclusion, the results indicated that the information of length and life experience can be activated when processing verbs. The representation of verb duration is grounded in both time metaphor and knowledge.

Key words: verb, duration, concept metaphor theory.

摘要： 通过2个实验,考察时间空间隐喻在汉语动词语义加工中的作用。实验1表明,在动词隐含延续时间判断任务中,当动词隐含延续时间的长度（“长-短”）与字词呈现的空间长度（“宽-窄”）不一致时,被试的反应慢,表明语义加工受到了干扰;实验2采取词性判断任务,发现隐含延续时间长的动词的加工时间更长,动词隐含延续时间的长度与字词呈现的空间长度不一致时,被试的加工变慢。整个研究表明,动词的隐含延续时间基于被试的知识经验和水平空间长度来表征,支持弱势的隐喻表征观。

关键词: 动词, 隐含延续时间, 时间空间隐喻。

Wang Xinxiao, Zhang Jijia, Wang Yue. The Effect of Time Metaphor on Semantic Processing of Chinese Verbs[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2015, 13(6): 744-750.

汪新筱, 张积家, 王悦. 时间空间隐喻在汉语动词语义加工中的作用[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2015, 13(6): 744-750.

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