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Sound symbolic naming of novel objects is a graded function
Patrick D Thompson1, Zachary Estes
1Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. Patrick.Thompson@warwick.ac.uk
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|September 8, 2011
Summary
Sound symbolism links sound and meaning, with larger sounds for bigger objects and smaller sounds for smaller ones. This study shows sound symbolism is graded, not just contrasting, influencing object naming.
Area of Science:
- Psycholinguistics
- Cognitive Science
- Phonetics
Background:
- The principle of linguistic arbitrariness posits no inherent link between sound and meaning.
- Recent research indicates sound symbolism, a nonarbitrary link between sound and meaning, exists.
- Examples include /u/ for bigness and /i/ for smallness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if sound symbolism exclusively marks contrasts or also represents graded properties.
- To determine if sound symbolism applies to object properties beyond simple binary distinctions.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted involving novel objects (greebles) of varying sizes.
- Participants selected the most fitting nonword name from a list for each object.
- Nonwords varied in the proportion of 'large' and 'small' sounding phonemes.
Main Results:
- A graded relationship was found between object size and preferred nonword names.
- Object size linearly predicted the number of large-sounding phonemes in the chosen name.
- Increasing object sizes correlated with an increase in large-sounding phonemes in elicited names.
Conclusions:
- Sound symbolism reflects object properties in a graded manner, not just as simple contrasts.
- Findings support the nonarbitrary connection between auditory perception and semantic representation.
- Results have implications for understanding cross-modal processing, gesture, and vocal pitch in communication.
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