A paper by Shih et al. that studied the sound symbolism of these creatures challenged the arbitrariness of the sign in a subfield of study that adds the suffix “-astics” to the name of these creatures. For 10 points each:
[10e] Name these creatures, whose English names have a positive correlation between segment count and evolutionary stage. One of these creatures is named for the Japanese words pikapika and chuuchuu.
ANSWER: Pokémon [accept Pokémonastics or Pokémonikers or Poketto Monsutā]
[10m] Two answers required. One well-known cross-linguistic symbolic phenomenon is the tendency for speakers to identify one of these words as representing a large, round object while the other represents a small, sharp object. Give both words.
ANSWER: bouba AND kiki [accept maluma, baluba, or baluma in place of “bouba”; accept takete in place of “kiki”]
[10h] J. R. Firth proposed the existence of these segments that are paired with meanings yet are neither phonemes nor morphemes. In English, “cl-” is one of these segments that are related to the closing motion of an object.
ANSWER: phonesthemes
<CH, Social Science>