Julia Trzeciakowska & Elizabeth Qing Zhang (Universität Tübingen/Universität Toruń)
Zeit: 16.15 - 17.45 Uhr
Ort: Zoom-Plattform
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Access link: https://zoom.us/j/95896132814
Meeting ID: 958 9613 2814
Title: The emergence of words from iterated sound imitations
Abstract: There has been an ongoing debate concerning the modality in which language has emerged (cf. Wacewicz and Żywiczyński 2020). The gestural scenarios of language origins are given more prominence, with experimental studies typically focusing on the role of visual iconicity in the evolution of gestural communication and sign languages (Armstrong 2007; Fay et al. 2014; Goldin-Meadow 2016; Zhang 2016; Silva et al. 2020; Fröhlich 2019).
The current research contributes to the language origins debate as it addresses an empirically underexplored vocal-auditory modality and the power of imitation in the development of first words and follows the novel line of research on spoken languages and sound symbolism (cf. Ćwiek et al., 2019; Edmiston et al., 2018; Perlman et al., 2015; Pernis & Vigliocco, 2014; Imai & Kita, 2014).
Following Edmiston et al. (2018), we use iterated learning paradigm to scrutinize the emergence of words from uninstructed repeated one another’s vocal productions of environmental sounds, e.g., glass breaking, clock ticking (cf. the children’s “Telephone game”). Our project aims at understanding the mechanism of the evolution of the sound lexicon; thus, answering the question: Is the emergence of words through iterated vocal imitations of environmental sounds universal, that is, language-independent?
The currently available data show that vocal imitations may stabilize in form and function (as measured by an increase of acoustic and orthographic similarity). Yet, we cannot generalize over other language groups than investigated English language speakers. The populations tested in our study are Polish, German, and Chinese native speakers which will allow us to verify whether the emergence of words through iterated vocal imitations of environmental sounds is a universal phenomenon.
References
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