工作記憶對於認知與語言的學習扮演重要的角色,聽語專業人員有必要了解工作記憶的機制及其對語言學習的影響。本文透過文獻、理論的整理與分析,首先說明工作記憶的機制、音韻迴路的證據,再根據手語的相關研究,釐清手語與口語在工作記憶運作的異同。工作記憶的機制,以Baddeley所提出的理論模式最具代表性,模式中包括執行中心、音韻迴路、視覺空間模版、以及事件緩衝器四個成份,且與長期記憶相關連。四種成分中以音韻迴路最受關注,當中包含儲存緩衝區與內在口語複誦兩個子系統。行為實驗及大腦造影的研究結果顯示,儲存緩衝區與音韻相似效應有關,內在口語複誦系統則與字長效應、咬音抑制效應有關。手語屬於視覺肢體的語言,與口語的聽覺口說有別,在接收與表達方式均有所不同,因此,能提供獨特的觀點看待人類的工作記憶系統,透過它可以進一步釐清手語與口語的語言共同性及管道獨特性。目前的研究結果發現,手語與口語都有相似的音韻迴路機制與效應,聾人在複雜工作記憶的能力,與聽人相當,但由於手語在管道、性質與口語不同,不利於聾人在手語時序性訊息的表現。文末,作者梳理目前手語研究的成果,並且就未來研究與實務應用提出相關建議。
Working memory is very important to cognition and language processing. It is necessary to understand how the working memory work and the influence on the language learning. This article introduced the mechanism of working memory and phonological loop, and then discussed the similarity and difference between oral language and sign language in the working memory. Many behavioral experiments and neural imaging studies supported the Baddeley's phonological loop model. There are two subsystems, one is storage buffer, and another is subvocalization. The former produces the phonological similarity effect; the latter brings the articulatory suppression and word length effect. Sign languages provide the unique view to realize the linguistic commonality and modality uniqueness. Studies indicated a close equivalence structure between STM for sign and spoken languages. However, span for auditorily-presented oral language words were higher than span for signs. This article finally drew the conclusions and suggestions.