Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics

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Sound Symbolism
(5,824 words)

1. Definition of sound symbolism

In the introduction to their standard work on sound symbolism, Hinton a.o. (1994b) distinguish four types of sound symbolism, which they define as “the direct linkage between sound and meaning” (1994b:1):

i.
Corporeal sound symbolism: “the use of certain sounds or intonation patterns to express the internal state of the speaker, emotional…

Cite this page
Kees Versteegh, “Sound Symbolism”, in: Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics, Managing Editors Online Edition: Lutz Edzard, Rudolf de Jong. Consulted online on 02 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1570-6699_eall_EALL_COM_0315>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004177024, 20090831



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