THE idea of phonetic symbolism—specifically a link between sounds and perception of size—appeared to me for the first time in Steven Pinker's Language Instinct.Some vowels are high in phonetic terminology, like [i] (as in sweet).HE idea of phonetic symbolism—specifically a link between sounds and perception of size—appeared to me for the first time in Steven Pinker's Language Instinct. Some vowels are high in phonetic terminology, like [i] (as in sweet).