Arbitrariness, Iconicity, and Systematicity in Language. Issue 10 (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dingemanse, Mark; Blasi, Damián E.; Lupyan, Gary; Christiansen, Morten H.; Monaghan, Padraic
• Is Part Of: Trends in cognitive sciences. Volume 19:Issue 10(2015)
• Page Start: 603
• Page End: 615
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Cognitive science -- Periodicals; Cognitive neuroscience -- Periodicals; 153.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2015.07.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-6613

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <p id="spar0005">The notion that the form of a word bears an arbitrary relation to its meaning accounts only partly for the attested relations between form and meaning in the languages of the world. Recent research suggests a more textured view of vocabulary structure, in which arbitrariness is complemented by iconicity (aspects of form resemble aspects of meaning) and systematicity (statistical regularities in forms predict function). Experimental evidence suggests these form-to-meaning correspondences serve different functions in language processing, development, and communication: systematicity facilitates category learning by means of phonological cues, iconicity facilitates word learning and communication by means of perceptuomotor analogies, and arbitrariness facilitates meaning individuation through distinctive forms. Processes of cultural evolution help to explain how these competing motivations shape vocabulary structure.</p> </sec> </abstract>