Further predictors of iconicity

Iconicity refers to a perceived resemblance between the form of a signal and its meaning (e.g., "meow" resembling the sound of a cat). Iconicity has been operationalized by having participants rate words in terms of their iconicity. This has enabled researchers to examine the lexical and semantic properties of words high and low in iconicity, for example finding that iconic words tend to be rich in sensory experience and semantically unique. In the present study I examined a suite of novel predictors that have not been examined in English iconicity. I discovered that while iconic words are low in frequency they are generally well known. They also tend to have more specific meanings, though this was moderated by concreteness and part of speech. Iconic words are also more polysemous and emotional. With one exception, there was no evidence that iconic words were more systematic. Together these results extend previous work, and reinforce the finding that iconicity must be understood through a lens of word use and of words as depictions.