Between Synchrony and Diachrony: The Multimodal Nature of Phonaesthemes
Marianna Pozza|Sara Civale
Knowledge about phonaesthesia has particularly been deepened since 1930 until now. Starting from John Wallis’ first thoughts on the subject in 1653 via contributions Rupert Firth’s post-1930s’ studies, phenomenon seen a growing interest as result of consolidated – but still to some extent arbitrary interactions between meaning and sound over time. This paper focuses relevant issues field diachronic linguistics, especially connection with etymological reconstruction, evaluate phenomena that, certain sense, appear be correlated idea posteriori re-motivation by speaker, investigating phonaesthemes’ conceptual organization around meaningful morpho-phonological clusters derived Proto Indo-European, always connected analogical associations. It also reasons stability root itself, due fundamental characteristics human cognition broader social contexts which language is used. Besides diachrony, psycholinguistic relevance phonaesthemic synchronically highlighted both productivity within Germanic branch, English above all comprehension processes, because their faciliatory priming effect seems guide speaker towards better experience understanding ease progressive natural addition patterned neologisms after an existing word, order make them compatible original sets. The purpose this contribution offer general overview issue, trying, at same time, show how can read interaction synchrony even if synchrony, for obvious reasons, remains privileged investigation filter.
International Journal of Linguistics|IRIS Research product catalog (Sapienza University of Rome)