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Sounds of the future and past
David M Sidhu1, Johanna Peetz1
1Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
British Journal of Psychology (London, England : 1953)
|December 9, 2024
Summary
This study reveals sound symbolism for time, linking future concepts with specific sounds and past concepts with others. These findings hold across different languages, suggesting a universal connection between phonemes and temporal perception.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Linguistics
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- Sound symbolism, the idea that speech sounds can evoke non-linguistic meanings, is a recognized phenomenon.
- However, its application to abstract concepts like time has been less explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the existence and nature of sound symbolism for the abstract concept of time.
- To determine if these associations are language-specific or more universal.
Main Methods:
- Seven experiments involving 825 participants were conducted.
- Participants associated abstract concepts of future and past with distinct phonemes using pseudowords.
- Cross-linguistic comparisons were made with English, German, and Hungarian speakers.
Main Results:
- A robust sound symbolism effect for time was identified.
- The future was associated with high front vowels and voiced fricatives/affricatives.
- The past was linked to /θ/ and voiced stops.
- These associations were found across different language speakers.
Conclusions:
- Evidence supports a universal sound symbolism for the abstract concept of time.
- The findings suggest that phonemic qualities are linked to temporal perception, independent of embodied articulation.
- This research contributes to understanding the cognitive underpinnings of abstract concept representation.
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