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Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs Julio Santiago 1 , Matt Jones 2 , Mónica Tamariz 3 , David Vinson 2 , Seán Roberts 3 , Nourane Clostre 2 , Jose Isidro Martínez 1 , Alex Lau- Zhu 2 , & Gabriella Vigliocco 2 1 Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada 2 Dept. of Experimental Psychology, University College London 3 Dept. of Psychology, Heriot Watt University

Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution ... · Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs Julio Santiago1, Matt Jones2, Mónica

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Page 1: Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution ... · Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs Julio Santiago1, Matt Jones2, Mónica

Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic

signs

Julio Santiago1, Matt Jones2, Mónica Tamariz3, David Vinson2, Seán Roberts3, Nourane Clostre2, Jose Isidro Martínez1, Alex Lau-

Zhu2, & Gabriella Vigliocco2

1Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center, University of Granada2Dept. of Experimental Psychology, University College London

3Dept. of Psychology, Heriot Watt University

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Arbitrariness of the linguistic sign

The First Principle of Linguistics:

“The signal is arbitrary in relation to its signification, with which it has no natural connexion in reality.”

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Phonological iconicity is scarce

Cocoricó Kikirikí Cook-doodle-doo

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Gestural iconicity

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Iconicity facilitates the connection between signal and referent

Gestural iconicity

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Iconicity in language origins

Gesture-first theories of

language evolutione.g., Corballis (2009).

1) Phonological iconicity is very scarce

2) Gestural iconicity is strong

3) Iconicity helps connecting sign and referent

4) Iconicity is specially important at the beginnings of language

5) First languages were probably gestural

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Iconicity -> ● connection between sign and world

Alternative: Iconicity is a linguistic principle, on a par

with arbitrariness

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Alternative: Iconicity is a linguistic principle, on a par

with arbitrarinessIconicity ->

● connection between sign and world

Arbitrariness -> ● combinatoriality● fluent production● perceptual

discriminability

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Iconicity -> ● connection between sign and world

Arbitrariness -> ● combinatoriality● fluent production● perceptual

discriminabilityLanguage

Pressure toward iconicity

Pressure toward arbitrariness

Alternative: Iconicity is a linguistic principle, on a par

with arbitrariness

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Language evolution should balance iconicity and arbitrariness

STEAL

Frishberg (1975).

● Iconic signs tend to become more arbitrary

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Do arbitrary signs tend to become more iconic?

Jones et al. (submitted).

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Diffusion chains

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Shape iconicity

Mo

tion

icon

icity

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CI

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

KA

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

LE

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

...

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Learningphase

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Learningphase

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Recallphase

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Recallphase

nozu

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Learningphase

nozu

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Six chains of 10 participants (generations)N = 60

Exp. 1 - Written responseExp. 2 - Oral response

Measures on the response words:

● Spikiness ratings of the whole word

● Length in letters/syllables

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Exp. 1 - Written response Exp. 2 - Oral response

Shape iconicity

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Length iconicity

Exp. 1 - Written response Exp. 2 - Oral response

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A completely arbitrary vocabulary tends to become more iconic with

language evolution

Page 26: Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution ... · Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs Julio Santiago1, Matt Jones2, Mónica

A completely arbitrary vocabulary tends to become more iconic with

language evolution

Can communication increase this effect?

Tamariz et al. (2018).

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dfrd dfre dftt dfrd dfre dftt

Learning game

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dfrd dfre dftt dfrd dfre dftt

Learning game

Communicative coopeerative game

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The LEARNING game

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The LEARNING game

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

poweni

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The LEARNING game

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

malili

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The LEARNING game

kinilowe

1. TRAINING

2. PLAYINGGUESSING

SPEAKING

Score: 0

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The LEARNING game

kinilowe

1. TRAINING

2. PLAYINGGUESSING

SPEAKING

Score: 0

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The LEARNING game

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

kinilowe

Score: 0

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The LEARNING game

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

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The LEARNING game

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

_

Score: 0

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The LEARNING game

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

molili

Score: 0

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The LEARNING game

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

molili

Score: 1

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The LEARNING game

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

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The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

Page 42: Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution ... · Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs Julio Santiago1, Matt Jones2, Mónica

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

poweni

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

kinilowe

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

Page 45: Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution ... · Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs Julio Santiago1, Matt Jones2, Mónica

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

Score: 0

...

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

Score: 0

kinilowe

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

Score: 0

kinilowe

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

Score: 0

kinilowe

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

Page 50: Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution ... · Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs Julio Santiago1, Matt Jones2, Mónica

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

Score: 0

kinilowe

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

Page 51: Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution ... · Pressures toward phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs Julio Santiago1, Matt Jones2, Mónica

1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

Score: 0

kinilowe

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

Score: 1

kinilowe

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

_

Score: 0

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

muwewe

Score: 0

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

muwewe

Score: 0

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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1. TRAINING2. PLAYING

GUESSINGSPEAKING

muwewe

Score: 0

The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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The COMMUNICATIVE COOPERATIVE game

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100% language shown at training

Feedback during recall

Four chains of 6 generationsN = 72

Measures on the response words:● Shape iconicity ratings

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Shape iconicity arose only in the communicative condition

Communication fosters the evolution of iconicity in the vocabulary

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Conclusions

● There is pressure for phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs

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Conclusions

● There is pressure for phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs

● Original verbal signs also had the potential and the pressure for phonological iconicity.

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Conclusions

● There is pressure for phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs

● Original verbal signs also had the potential and the pressure for phonological iconicity.

● Original languages probably mixed phonological and gestural signs

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Conclusions

● There is pressure for phonological iconicity in the evolution of linguistic signs

● Original verbal signs also had the potential and the pressure for phonological iconicity.

● Original languages probably mixed phonological and gestural signs

Thank you!

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Basquetzillotzallo ‘to shamble’xingi-xango ‘to skip’kiskun-kaskun ‘to babble’kirrinka-karranka ‘sound of a cart’tir-tir ‘rain sound’

Japanesekorokoro ‘a light object rolling repeatedly’nurunuru ‘the tactile sensation causedby slimy substance’yochiyochi ‘the manner of walking typical for infants’

Spanishchin-chin ‘to toast’crujido ‘crack’tic-tac ‘clock sound’

Englishsluggishcrackhop

Phonological iconicity should be widespread in oral languages

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Iconicity should be important in language acquisition

BSL English Spanish

Thompson et al. (2012).

Perry et al. (2015).

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Iconicity in sign language