Why should we care about sound symbolism in EFL learning?two pilot studies

  1. Roig-Marín, Amanda 1
  1. 1 University of Cambridge
    info

    University of Cambridge

    Cambridge, Reino Unido

    ROR https://ror.org/013meh722

Journal:
IJES: international journal of English studies

ISSN: 1578-7044,  1989-6131

Year of publication: 2017

Volume: 17

Issue: 1

Pages: 17-36

Type: Article

DOI: 10.6018/IJES/2017/1/264551 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDIGITUM editor

More publications in: IJES: international journal of English studies

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Given the importance of the phonological and lexical components of the language in L2 learning, this article discusses an innovative, holistic approach to learning these two components of the language based on the existence of “sound symbolism”—the interrelation between sound and meaning—in English. In particular, it describes how and why the study of sound symbolism can be advantageous to EFL learners. This claim is grounded in empirical data gathered from two pilot studies carried out in two educational settings (a secondary school and the University of Alicante). The results suggest that knowledge of sound symbolic principles underlying the English language can enhance lexical storage and semantic prediction

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