LANE 333

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. MORPHEMES
PHONESTHEMES
PHONEMES
THE HIERARCHY BETWEEN PHONEMES AND MORPHEMES
Åsa Abelin, 1999,Studies in Sound Symbolism
4 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 10/2/2011

5. •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.
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. 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” .
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9. 9 Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar 10/2/2011