<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This preliminary study of 285 morphological and cognitive blends (attestation dates 1200-2012) aims to investigate the role of phonesthemes in the structuring of the English lexicon. A study of <italic>OED</italic> word origins shows a disparity between older (1200-1900) and recent blends (1903-2012). Sound symbolism plays an overriding role in over 50% of older blends, leading to a study of initial phonesthemes (i.e. consonant clusters). Several case studies of diachronic semantic shift attested in the <italic>OED</italic> point to the existence of multidirectional motivation ties. This preliminary study supports the psycholinguistic theory that 1) there is a structured secondary sound symbolism in English, and that 2) it is still productive today and may play a role in the creation of neologisms as well as ensuring their survival (see Bergen, 2010: 52). A more in-depth usage-based analysis using sophisticated measurement tools is the next step in the study.</p></abstract>

This preliminary study of 285 morphological and cognitive blends (attestation dates 1200-2012) aims to investigate the role of phonesthemes in the structuring of the English lexicon. A study of OED word origins shows a disparity between older (1200-1900) and recent blends (1903-2012). Sound symbolism plays an overriding role in over 50% of older blends, leading to a study of initial phonesthemes (i.e. consonant clusters). Several case studies of diachronic semantic shift attested in the OED point to the existence of multidirectional motivation ties. This preliminary study supports the psycholinguistic theory that 1) there is a structured secondary sound symbolism in English, and that 2) it is still productive today and may play a role in the creation of neologisms as well as ensuring their survival (see Bergen, 2010: 52). A more in-depth usage-based analysis using sophisticated measurement tools is the next step in the study.

The phonesthetics of blends: A lexicographic study of cognitive blends in the OED

ExELL

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This preliminary study of 285 morphological and cognitive blends (attestation dates 1200-2012) aims to investigate the role of phonesthemes in the structuring...

The phonesthetics of blends: A lexicographic study of cognitive blends in the OED

Published Online: Apr 22, 2016

Page range: 12 - 45

Received: Feb 03, 2015

Accepted: Mar 02, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/exell-2016-0002

Keywords
cognitive blends, the, diachronic semantic shift, multidirectional remotivation, phonesthemes

© 2014 Chris Smith, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The phonesthetics of blends: A lexicographic study of cognitive blends in the OED

Published Online: Apr 22, 2016

Page range: 12 - 45

Received: Feb 03, 2015

Accepted: Mar 02, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/exell-2016-0002

Keywordscognitive blends, the, diachronic semantic shift, multidirectional remotivation, phonesthemes

© 2014 Chris Smith, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
cognitive blends, the, diachronic semantic shift, multidirectional remotivation, phonesthemes