Rhyme over reason : phonological motivation in English / Réka Benczes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Benczes, Réka, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

English language--Onomatopoeic words.

English language.

Onomatopoeia.

Sound symbolism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 269 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2019.

Summary:

We are fascinated by what words sound like. This fascination also drives us to search for meaning in sound - thereby contradicting the principle of the arbitrariness of the linguistic sign. Phonesthemes, onomatopoeia or rhyming compounds all share the property of carrying meaning by virtue of what they sound like, simply because language users establish an association between form and meaning. By drawing on a wide array of examples, ranging from conventionalized words and expressions to brand names and slogans, this book offers a comprehensive account of the role that sound symbolism and rhyme/alliteration plays in English, and by doing so, advocates a more relaxed view of the category 'morpheme' that is able to incorporate less regular word-formation processes.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: 1. Introduction; 2. Phonological motivation in language evolution and development; 3. Phonetic symbolism; 4. Onomatopoeia; 5. Rhyme and alliteration in blends and compounds; 6. Words, words, words: rhyme and repetition in multi-word expressions; 7. Conclusions: the piggy in the middle.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 29 Jan 2019).

ISBN:

1-108-65129-1

1-108-64913-0

1-316-99892-4