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Updated: Feb 21, 2026

Using Eye Movements Recorded in the Visual World Paradigm to Explore the Online Processing of Spoken Language
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In search of meaning.

Marcus Perlman1, Bodo Winter1

  • 1Department of Linguistics and Communication, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The bouba-kiki effect, a phenomenon of sound symbolism, does not explain the origins of human language. Linguistic research indicates that language evolution is far more complex than this simple association.

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Area of Science:

  • Linguistics
  • Cognitive Science
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The bouba-kiki effect describes the non-arbitrary mapping between speech sounds and visual shapes.
  • This effect has been proposed as a potential clue to the origins of language, suggesting a link between sound and meaning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether the bouba-kiki effect can account for the origins of language.
  • To critically evaluate the role of sound symbolism in early language development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on the bouba-kiki effect.
  • Analysis of theories on language evolution.
  • Comparative study of sound symbolism across different languages.

Main Results:

  • The bouba-kiki effect is a limited phenomenon observed in specific contexts.
  • It does not provide a comprehensive explanation for the emergence of complex linguistic structures.
  • Evidence suggests language origins involve a broader range of cognitive and social factors.

Conclusions:

  • The bouba-kiki effect is not the primary driver for the origins of language.
  • Language evolution is a multifaceted process influenced by numerous factors beyond simple sound symbolism.