Difference between revisions of "Bouba-kiki effect"

From Glottopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 1: Line 1:
 
== Bouba/Kiki Effect ==
 
== Bouba/Kiki Effect ==
The '''bouba/kiki effect''' or '''kiki/bouba effect''' is a phenomenon of crossmodal correspondence between sounds and shapes. It is a tendency in associating the nonsense words ''bouba'' with a round shape and ''kiki'' with a spiky shape in systematic ways.<br>
+
The '''bouba/kiki effect''' or '''kiki/bouba effect''' is a phenomenon of crossmodal correspondence between sounds and shapes. It is a tendency in associating the nonsense words "bouba" with a round shape and "kiki" with a spiky shape in systematic ways.<br>
  
 
Explanations of the ''bouba/kiki effect'' are typically described through iconic cross-sensory mechanisms. These mechanisms imply that the effect arises from a process where the properties inherent in the sound form of nonsense words or their motor articulations are directly matched to the properties of the abstract shapes. The ''bouba/kiki effect'' is a form of [[sound symbolism]] and considered as a universal sound-shape correspondence.
 
Explanations of the ''bouba/kiki effect'' are typically described through iconic cross-sensory mechanisms. These mechanisms imply that the effect arises from a process where the properties inherent in the sound form of nonsense words or their motor articulations are directly matched to the properties of the abstract shapes. The ''bouba/kiki effect'' is a form of [[sound symbolism]] and considered as a universal sound-shape correspondence.
Line 9: Line 9:
 
In 2001, Ramachandran and Hubbard brought widespread attention to the phenomenon through their experiment using the words "bouba" and "kiki." They suggested that the bouba/kiki effect and other similar phenomena could offer important insights into the origins of language.
 
In 2001, Ramachandran and Hubbard brought widespread attention to the phenomenon through their experiment using the words "bouba" and "kiki." They suggested that the bouba/kiki effect and other similar phenomena could offer important insights into the origins of language.
  
=== Examples ===
+
=== Research ===
 +
A research in 2021 experimenting the phenomenon in 25 languages, representing nine language families and 10 writing systems, shows that there are strong effect of the phenomenon across the languages.

Revision as of 07:33, 9 June 2024

Bouba/Kiki Effect

The bouba/kiki effect or kiki/bouba effect is a phenomenon of crossmodal correspondence between sounds and shapes. It is a tendency in associating the nonsense words "bouba" with a round shape and "kiki" with a spiky shape in systematic ways.

Explanations of the bouba/kiki effect are typically described through iconic cross-sensory mechanisms. These mechanisms imply that the effect arises from a process where the properties inherent in the sound form of nonsense words or their motor articulations are directly matched to the properties of the abstract shapes. The bouba/kiki effect is a form of sound symbolism and considered as a universal sound-shape correspondence.

History

The bouba/kiki effect was initially observed by Georgian psychologist Dimitri Uznadze in 1924 and was later referenced by German American psychologist Wolfgang Köhler in a 1929 experiment. Köhler demonstrated the effect with the words "baluba" and "takete", which were subsequently changed to "maluma" and "takete." Köhler's findings indicate a strong preference for associating "maluma" with a rounded shape, while "takete" with a jagged shape.

In 2001, Ramachandran and Hubbard brought widespread attention to the phenomenon through their experiment using the words "bouba" and "kiki." They suggested that the bouba/kiki effect and other similar phenomena could offer important insights into the origins of language.

Research

A research in 2021 experimenting the phenomenon in 25 languages, representing nine language families and 10 writing systems, shows that there are strong effect of the phenomenon across the languages.