Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Netherlands.
Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Netherlands.
Lang Speech. 2021 Mar;64(1):52-72. doi: 10.1177/0023830920914339. Epub 2020 Apr 20.
Interest in iconicity (the resemblance-based mapping between aspects of form and meaning is in the midst of a resurgence, and a prominent focus in the field has been the possible role of iconicity in language learning. Here we critically review theory and empirical findings in this domain. We distinguish local learning enhancement (where the iconicity of certain lexical items influences the learning of those items) and general learning enhancement (where the iconicity of certain lexical items influences the later learning of non-iconic items or systems). We find that evidence for local learning enhancement is quite strong, though not as clear cut as it is often described and based on a limited sample of languages. Despite common claims about broader facilitatory effects of iconicity on learning, we find that current evidence for general learning enhancement is lacking. We suggest a number of productive avenues for future research and specify what types of evidence would be required to show a role for iconicity in general learning enhancement. We also review evidence for functions of iconicity beyond word learning: iconicity enhances comprehension by providing complementary representations, supports communication about sensory imagery, and expresses affective meanings. Even if learning benefits may be modest or cross-linguistically varied, on balance, iconicity emerges as a vital aspect of language.
人们对象似性（形式和意义之间基于相似性的映射）的兴趣正在复兴，该领域的一个主要焦点是象似性在语言学习中的可能作用。在这里，我们批判性地回顾了这一领域的理论和实证发现。我们区分了局部学习增强（某些词汇项目的象似性影响这些项目的学习）和一般学习增强（某些词汇项目的象似性影响非象似项目或系统的后续学习）。我们发现，局部学习增强的证据相当强，尽管不如经常描述的那样明确，而且基于语言的有限样本。尽管人们经常声称象似性对学习有更广泛的促进作用，但我们发现目前缺乏一般学习增强的证据。我们为未来的研究提出了一些富有成效的途径，并具体说明了需要什么样的证据来表明象似性在一般学习增强中的作用。我们还回顾了象似性在单词学习之外的功能的证据：象似性通过提供补充表示来增强理解，支持关于感官意象的交流，并表达情感意义。即使学习益处可能微不足道或在不同语言中有所不同，但总的来说，象似性成为语言的一个重要方面。
