Why linguistic symbols should and should not be arbitrary: An integrative account from language evolution, acquisition, and brain functions.

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H01928
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Linguistics
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: IMAI Mutsumi 慶應義塾大学, 環境情報学部(藤沢), 教授 (60255601)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大槻 美佳 北海道大学, 保健科学研究院, 准教授 (10372880) ; 秋田 喜美 名古屋大学, 人文学研究科, 准教授 (20624208) ; 酒井 弘 早稲田大学, 理工学術院, 教授 (50274030) ; 佐治 伸郎 鎌倉女子大学, 児童学部, 准教授 (50725976)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 言語心理学 / 恣意性 / 非恣意性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Uncovering the relation between form and meaning of words is important for understanding the nature and evolution of language. Form and meaning of words are associated not only by language-specific arbitrary conventions, but also by an intrinsic link, called sound symbolism, which reflects perceived resemblance between sound and properties of referents. Does one need to be able to hear sound to detect sound symbolism? Here, we show that one does not need to. Deaf-and-Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) participants, even those with profound hearing loss, could judge the sound symbolic match between shapes and words in the same way as hearing participants do, as long as DHH participants could move their tongue freely. This indicates that they detected sound symbolism via inherent resemblance between articulatory movements and shapes. This further suggests that linguistic symbols can emerge through iconic mapping between oral gesture and sensory experience of the world.

Free Research Field

発達心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、聴覚障がい者が音象徴性を構音運動と関連づけて認識している可能性を示唆するものである。これは、音象徴が言語の非恣意性に対し、音声が発せられる構音運動の側面から大きく寄与するという可能性を改めて示している。言語を取り巻く諸分野である哲学・生物進化・言語発達・人類学・社会経済学などにおいて、議論されてきた言語の恣意性・非恣意性に対し、実験結果という証拠を提示した点は学術的に意義深いものである。