关键词: 语言理解, 知觉模拟, 知觉符号理论, 命题符号理论

Abstract: In contrast to traditional view that discourse comprehension is network-building, perceptual symbol theory proposes to view comprehension process as to construct perceptual simulations of the state of affairs it denotes. On this view, understanding descriptions about motions activates dynamic mental simulations. There is not only behavioral but also neuroscience evidence for this assumption. It’s suggested that the processing mechanisms recruited to construct simulations during language comprehension are also used during corresponding motion process. But the definitiveness of this assumption must await further empirical investigations and the perceptual symbol theory remains to be validated in the domain of language comprehension

Key words: comprehension, perceptual simulations, perceptual symbol theory, propositional symbol theory