失智症家庭照顧者的自我敘說分析：一個符號學的路徑

An Analysis of a Dementia Family Caregiver's Self-narrative: A Semiotic Approach

本文藉由一位失智症家庭照顧者自我敘說為文本，以符號學取徑、二元對立結構，探討照願者自我敘說所使用的譬喻以及其中的含義，探討失智症家庭照顧者複雜幽暗的思緒。本文指出完美母親形象的破滅，所造成的二元對立衝突，是作者自我敘說的內在根源，並依此討論其中13則引文（15個譬喻）的意含。分析發現，作者運用的譬喻可分成兩類，一為自然譬喻，一為人文譬喻。自然譬喻為大自然意象，包括「黑洞」、「海嘯」、「深淵」、「暴風雨」、「惡夢」、「屋漏偏逢連夜雨」等；而人文譬喻則包含「累格」、「當機」、「蹺蹺板」「、下樓梯般」、「下墜球」、「艱辛的路程」，「冤枉路」、「三姑六婆的討論」、「照顧失智症患者，是你參與演出的一場戲」等意象。從自然譬喻的角度來看，大自然無情的力量，人類根本毫無招架的能力，僅能消極地因應；而若從人文譬喻而言，雖然仍以負面意象為主，但卻為人類留下了可以努力的空間，從相關人士的經驗傳承或專業諮詢，失智症家庭照顧者在生活的天平裡取得平衡，並非不能企及的任務。

Population aging is a global phenomenon and Taiwan is no exception. According to government's statistics data, Taiwan will enter a super-aged society by 2026, which means at least 20 percent of the population are the age of 65 and above. In a graying society, people with dementia are increasing as well. Dementia deteriorates patients' memory, learning ability, emotional control, and judgment. Dementia affects not only on people with dementia but also on their carers, family and society. This study analyzes a self-narrative of a dementia family carer. By employing semiotic method and binary oppositions, this research discusses the metaphors of the self-narrative and tries to explore the meanings of the text. This article points out that the destruction of perfect motherhood imagery led to the writing of this text. Under this context, this study examines 13 quotes (15 metaphors) from the self-narrative text. There are two kinds of metaphors, namely, natural metaphors and humanistic metaphors. Natural metaphors include “black hole”, “tsunami”, “abyss”, “storm”, “nightmare”, and “it never rains but it pours”. Humanistic ones are “lag”, “system shutdown” “seesaw “as going down the stairs”, “sinker, “tough road”, “the long way”, “female relatives' discussion”, “to take care a dementia family is to participate in a play”. From the perspective of natural metaphors, human beings can only passively respond to the forces of nature. However, from the viewpoint of humanistic metaphors, they leave room for carers to make efforts. For instance, “to take care a dementia family is to participate in a play” indicates we have a chance to gain control over any situation. By learning from other people's experiences, taking care of dementia family and controlling frustration is not an impossible mission.