Abstract The hitherto unrecognized task of Empirical Semiotics is to identify particular testing procedures which measure qualitative differences in how representations are processed. Elicited imitation (EI) can indicate the nature of the interpretants which hold between sign and object by tapping how meanings are processed in working memory (WM). The way in which linguistic forms are handled in WM reveals striking distinctions between interpretants which express a proposition, as opposed to those which are simply diagrammatic in nature. EI is the soundest method (compared to natural speech, grammatical judgments) to measure qualitative semiotic advances because it measures meaning changes accorded to the sign in WM. Subjects were instructed to provide word associations after each stimulus (twenty-four sentences) to guard against verbatim recall. Repetitions of the advanced groups more often contained meaningful substitutions (words/inflections), whereas word deletions were more often documented in the beginner groups. Findings indicate the propensity of the more advanced L2s to process signs as meaningful propositions – lower proficiency learners illustrating verbatim repetitions in Secondness (associating more diagrammatic interpretants), while more symbolic meanings surfaced (Thirdness) in advanced groups. The EI procedure constitutes the best method of tapping L2s interpretants which mediate sign–object relations.

中文翻译：

---

工作记忆中的符号处理

摘要经验符号学迄今尚未得到认可的任务是确定特定的测试程序，这些程序测量表征处理方式的质量差异。主动模仿（EI）可以通过点击在工作记忆（WM）中如何处理含义来指示在符号和对象之间保持的解释器的性质。在WM中处理语言形式的方式揭示了表达命题的解释者与本质上仅是图解的解释者之间的显着区别。EI是测量定性符号学进步的最健全的方法（与自然语言，语法判断相比），因为它可以测量WM中与符号相对应的含义变化。指示受试者在每次刺激（二十四个句子）后提供单词联想，以防止逐字逐句回忆。高级组的重复更经常包含有意义的替换（单词/词尾变化），而在初学者组中更经常记录单词删除。研究结果表明，更高级的L2倾向于将符号处理为有意义的命题–熟练程度较低的学习者在Secondness上进行逐字重复说明（与更多图解说明者相关联），而更多的符号含义在Advanced群体中浮出水面（Thirdness）。EI程序是挖掘调解符号与对象关系的L2s解释器的最佳方法。研究结果表明，更高级的L2倾向于将符号处理为有意义的命题–熟练程度较低的学习者在Secondness上进行逐字重复说明（与更多图解说明者相关联），而更多的符号含义在Advanced群体中浮出水面（Thirdness）。EI程序是挖掘调解符号与对象关系的L2s解释器的最佳方法。研究结果表明，更高级的L2倾向于将符号处理为有意义的命题–熟练程度较低的学习者在Secondness上进行逐字重复说明（与更多图解说明者相关联），而更多的符号含义在Advanced群体中浮出水面（Thirdness）。EI程序是挖掘调解符号与对象关系的L2s解释器的最佳方法。