Sound-Symbolic Semantics of Written Japanese Vowels in a Paper-Based Survey Study

Verbal sounds can be associated with specific meanings, a phenomenon called sound symbolism. Previous findings of symbolism have shown that words including consonants or vowels mouth shapes to pronounce associate and subjective physical emotional evaluations. The purpose this study was examine whether each written vowel in given language individually Six hundred thirteen participants used five-point semantic differential scales for 10 features (size, closeness, thickness, width, weight, height, depth, affection, excitement familiarity) rate Japanese (a , i u e o ). results showed the size, thickness width were significantly higher than those whereas affection familiarity others. These consistent previous which sound-symbolic been (i.e., width) affection) Our suggest itself, its individual characteristics, could contribute provide insights on how we better use letters communicative relationships among writers readers.