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jmc20kop t1_j4j69i6 wrote

Reply to comment by platoprime in What it means to “know” a language by thenousman

Look it up, studies have been done to show that English speakers find the word kiki to be a sharper object and boba to be more rounded objects

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WeeabooHunter69 t1_j4l59i6 wrote

I'm pretty sure that it was a lot more than just English speakers, right?

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platoprime t1_j4j85wx wrote

Yes because we associate the sharp abrupt sounds in kiki to a sharp object because we use words like sharp and flat to describe sounds. That isn't "the shape of the sounds hold[ing] a meaning that is greater than the definition of the word itself?".

That's just recognizing there are different sounds.

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Realinternetpoints t1_j4jait9 wrote

It’s more than English. Other languages have similar associations with Kiki and boba. It sounds like this person is saying that there are sound associations in Arabic that only make sense to Arabic speakers

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platoprime t1_j4jb6i6 wrote

> there are sound associations in Arabic that only make sense to Arabic speakers

Like words and their connotations? Yeah, I wouldn't describe those as something special and "greater" than the meaning of a word.

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ididntunderstandyou t1_j4kjy3y wrote

Tell me you speak no other language without telling me you speak no other language.

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CheesyPizzaDood t1_j4jxwin wrote

Boba tea bubbles are rounded objects, but I do get your point with kiki.

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TsarKashmere t1_j4j85in wrote

Synesthesia.

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Getjac t1_j4jibgi wrote

Failing to recognize the sensuous quality of words is a failure of perception on your part pal

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platoprime t1_j4j8i21 wrote

It isn't synesthesia; we just use words like sharp and flat to describe sounds so it's only natural to project that meaning onto a word that sounds sharp or flat.

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