Sound symbolism: the theory that speech sounds have intrinsic meaning
Other definitions from around the web
“The idea that vocal sounds or phonemes carry meaning in and of themselves.” – Wikipedia
“The term for a hypothesized systematic relationship between sound and
meaning.” – Ohala, J. “Sound Symbolism.”
“A field of linguistics, not without its skeptics [that] posits that certain sounds have certain meanings, and that these sounds trigger imagery that is consistent and meaningful.” – Pile, M. “How to Create the Perfect Brand Name With the ‘Sound Symbolism’ Technique.” Inc.
“The theory that there’s an intrinsic meaning we unknowingly attach to certain speech sounds.” – Sneed, A. “Why The Sound Of A Brand Name Matters.” Fast Company, Co.Design.
Also known as
- Phonesthesia
- Phonosemantics
This Definition page will be updated periodically with new content. Please share any suggested additions in the comments section.
Leave a Reply