Abstract:

American cultural anthropologist Hall took the initiative in proposing the concept of proxemics, which is the practical application of psycholinguistics under the context of cross-cultural communication. Proxemics focuses on investigating the behavior laws of human personal space and realizing the cultural construction of relevant theories. Most of the studies on traditional proxemics were conducted before the mid-1980s. The four major paradigms are as follows: simulation method/projective method, stop distance method, chair selection method and natural observation method. Thereafter, the academic attention on personal space significantly declined and the relevant studies almost stagnated. The major reasons are the diversified fundamental defects inherent in the paradigms of traditional proxemics, such as low ecological validity, lack of accuracy etc. 　　It is rather difficult for the paradigms of traditional proxemics to adapt to the current research needs of semiotics. Consequently, virtual proxemics dependent on virtual reality emerges. Virtual proxemics focuses on the applicability of the real-world implicit behavior norms of spatial language in the virtual world. Literature review of virtual proxemics reveals the following results: firstly, the real-world socio-cultural norms of personal space are also applicable in the virtual world; secondly, the adopted virtual field experimentation is characterized with high validity and reliability, random and representative sampling, and absolute reproducibility of the research results; thirdly, while guaranteeing high external validity, researchers can precisely control diversified experimental conditions, such as virtual avatars, details of virtual experimental environment and extraneous variables of nonverbal behavior; fourthly, the applicability of the relevant research results in the real world is considerably high. 　　Seven innovating breakthroughs of virtual proxemics are discussed: the ability to guarantee simultaneously high internal validity and high external validity, the ability to guarantee the unconscious processing of personal space, the ability to control precisely extraneous variables of nonverbal behavior, the ability to guarantee the equilibrium effect of gaze, the ability to realize experimental studies of crowding stressor, the ability to realize the accurate repeatability of experimental environment and experimental stimuli and the ability to optimize traditional ways of data collection. 　　Generally speaking, the emergence of virtual proxemics can not only effectively remedy the methodology deficiencies of traditional proxemics, but also possess important practical significance and broad research prospect. Currently, several domestic universities and research institutions have constructed virtual reality laboratories, which can provide a powerful high-end technical support platform for the indigenous pilot studies on virtual proxemics. The future virtual field experiments can realize cross-cultural studies by changing flexibly the nationalities of participants and virtual avatars. Moreover researchers can apply the relevant results of indigenous empirical studies to the preparatory trainings for the students intending to study abroad and the personnel trainings for the talents intending to engage in cross-cultural communication. Simultaneously, virtual proxemics can undoubtedly promote the further development of indigenous empirical studies on semiotics and cross-cultural nonverbal communication.

Key words: virtual proxemics, semiotics, personal space, crowding, virtual field experimentation

摘要：

传统空间语言学研究范式已经难以适应符号学当前研究的需要，本文探讨了以虚拟现实技术为支持的虚拟空间语言学的现存研究范例及其在下列七大方面的创新点 ：兼顾高内部效度和外部效度、保证个人空间的无意识加工特性、可精确控制非言语行为额外变量、保证凝视的平衡作用、实现拥挤压力源的实验研究、实现对实验环境和实验刺激精确的可重复性、优化传统数据收集方法。最终提出了该创新研究范式在本土化符号学和跨文化非言语交际学研究领域中所呈现出的重要理论价值和实践意义。

关键词: 虚拟空间语言学, 符号学, 个人空间, 拥挤, 虚拟现场实验研究