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Phonesthemes: By: Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar

The document discusses phonesthemes, which are sounds that suggest meaning. Phonesthemes are defined and examples are provided, such as the vowels in Chinese words suggesting heavy or light meanings. While phonesthemes group similar meanings with similar sounds, they are considered different from morphemes as they do not meet all morpheme qualifications. Phonesthemes are thus viewed as their own linguistic feature or as bound submorphemic elements.

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117 views9 pages

Phonesthemes: By: Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar

The document discusses phonesthemes, which are sounds that suggest meaning. Phonesthemes are defined and examples are provided, such as the vowels in Chinese words suggesting heavy or light meanings. While phonesthemes group similar meanings with similar sounds, they are considered different from morphemes as they do not meet all morpheme qualifications. Phonesthemes are thus viewed as their own linguistic feature or as bound submorphemic elements.

Uploaded by

noora
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LANE 333 -

MORPHOLOGY
2012 – Term 1

PHONESTHEMES 8
By: http://SBANJAR.kau.edu.sa/
Dr. Shadia Y. Banjar http://wwwdrshadiabanjar.blogspot.com
1 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 10/2/2011
p. Phonesthemes
“The word phonestheme is, a blending of phoneme and esthetic,
indicating quite elegantly the tendency of certain sounds to acquire
esthetic or emotional connotations.”
Verbatim: VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol XIII No 3

Phonestheme : a sound that, because it appears in a number of


words of similar meaning, has a recognizable semantic association.

Nordberg (1986) writes ‘‘Sound symbol or phonestheme ... is the


synesthetic combination of a certain sound or sound sequence with a
particular notion or a particular connotative content.’’
Jakobson and Waugh (1979) define sound symbolism as ‘‘an inmost,
natural association between sound and meaning’’.
Malkiel (1994) uses the term phonosymbolism to mean the same, he
writes, as sound symbolism.
2 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar
What exactly is the relation between
phonesthemes and morphemes?
Are phonesthemes really morphemes or are
they something different?
The most common definition of a morpheme
is
‘‘a minimal meaning carrying unit’’

‘‘the grouping of similar meanings about similar sound’’


(Bolinger, 1965).

Åsa Abelin, 1999, used the term phonestheme


to mean bound submorphemic
3 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 10/2/2011
MORPHEMES

PHONESTHEMES

PHONEMES
THE HIERARCHY BETWEEN PHONEMES AND MORPHEMES
Åsa Abelin, 1999,Studies in Sound Symbolism

4 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 10/2/2011


•Phonesthemes are sounds that in themselves
express, elicit, or suggest meaning.
 Example: the meaning of two Chinese words
ching = heavy
chung = light

•The vowels in these words elicit the meaning.


• These vowels are called phonesthemes.

5 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 10/2/2011


In English, the most common phonesthemes are
the pair of high front vowels /i/ and /Ι/, suggesting
smallness : peep, squeak, ping, bit

Phonesthemes Suggestive Examples


Meaning
/i/ smallness wee
/Ι/ smallness bit
ǝ/
/ǝ/ undesirable dung
/gl-/ light glow
/fl-/ moving light flame
/sp-/ point spot
/sl-/ movement slide

6 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar


Example:
Phonesthemes: sl in slip, slide, slick, slime, sled

sl- words have overwhelmingly pejorative (negative)


connotations
slick insincere
slide slip along, slither
slight insult
slime thick slippery mud or similar goo

slimy disgustingly dishonest or flattering

sling throw quickly and carelessly


slink sneak
slip slide unintentionally
slit cut or tear lengthwise
slither slide with an irregular motion

7 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar


phonesthemes

It is important to note that phonesthemes


do not meet all the conditions that qualify
a morpheme. Thus, they are considered a
different linguistic feature or as Åsa
Abelin, 1999, considered “bound
submorphemic” .

8 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 10/2/2011


9 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 10/2/2011

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