Akbuğa Emir, Göksun Tilbe
Department of Psychology, Koç University, Rumelifeneri Yolu, Sariyer, 34450, Istanbul, Turkey.
Cogn Process. 2025 Jul 3. doi: 10.1007/s10339-025-01285-6.
We use space to think and talk about time. Our hand gestures reflect how we conceptualize time. This study examines the processing differences between L1-Turkish and L2-English spatial metaphors of time, looking at hand gestures and comparing them with literal spatial statements. We asked our participants to explain literal and metaphorical sentences and coded their gestures. Participants also rated the conventionality of sentences based on their clarity. Individuals produced more gestures for L1 literal and L2 metaphorical sentences. Higher L2 proficiency was related to fewer overall gesture use in L2. Participants produced more temporal gestures while explaining L2 than L1 metaphors. L2 metaphors elicited more two-handed gestures than L1 metaphors. Individuals used the lateral and sagittal axes equally frequently while producing temporal gestures. Last, beat gestures followed the direction of metaphors in speech. These findings suggest that spatial metaphors of time are processed differently in L1 and L2. The findings pave the way for potential research that might compare such metaphors in first and second language in terms of gesture production.
我们借助空间来思考和谈论时间。我们的手势反映了我们如何概念化时间。本研究考察了以土耳其语为母语者和以英语为第二语言者在时间的空间隐喻处理上的差异，观察手势并将其与字面空间陈述进行比较。我们要求参与者解释字面和隐喻句子，并对手势进行编码。参与者还根据句子的清晰度对其常规性进行评分。个体在解释母语字面句子和第二语言隐喻句子时产生的手势更多。第二语言熟练程度越高，在第二语言中总体手势使用就越少。参与者在解释第二语言隐喻时比解释母语隐喻时产生更多的时间手势。与母语隐喻相比，第二语言隐喻引发更多的双手手势。个体在做出时间手势时，横向和矢状轴的使用频率相同。最后，节拍手势遵循言语中隐喻的方向。这些发现表明，时间的空间隐喻在母语和第二语言中的处理方式不同。这些发现为可能在第一语言和第二语言中就手势产生方面比较此类隐喻的潜在研究铺平了道路。
