Sound-symbolic theories in the Nordic countries

• Sound-symbolic theories in the Nordic countries There is a tradition of research and theory of sound symbolism in Sweden and the other Nordic countries, although the theories are somewhat difficult to discover since they have partly been disguised in descriptive accounts of language use. Apart from research within general linguistics, studies have traditionally been made within the areas of etymology and toponymy (place name research) as well as in poetry. Sweden, together with the other Nordic countries, are worldwide leaders in toponymy. Onomatopoeia and sound symbolic explanations are part of the etymological explanations for place names but generally considered so self-evident, that theoretical explanations or models are seldom made explicit. Analyses of these works are made in order to extract theoretical models and explanations. Many researchers such as Tamm (1887), Lindroth (1908), Hellquist (1922), Wessén (1961), Kornhall (1968), Fries (1980), Edlund (1985, 1987), and even Carl von Linné (1755) have discussed onomatopoeia and sound symbolism in explanations of word formation and place name formation. There are well-known linguists in the Nordic tradition. The obvious one to mention is Otto Jespersen, the great Danish linguist, who, apart from his works on grammar and syntax also formulated theories for phonosemantics. He wrote: “Is there really much more logic in the opposite extreme which denies any kind of sound symbolism … and sees in our words only a collection of accidental and irrational associations of sound and meaning? There is no denying that there are words which we feel instinctively to be adequate to express the ideas they stand for.” Another Danish linguist, Kristoffer Nyrop, discusses “sound harmony” within his theory of semasiology. Ideforss (1928) made a pioneering work on the description of Swedish interjections, an area in the outskirts of sound symbolism, but relevant because of its non-arbitrary nature. He discusses the emotional, onomatopoeic and imperative functions of interjections. He states that the basis for all interjections is strong affect and an expression for an inner feeling. He tries to give psychological and communicative explanations for interjections. An Icelandic linguist is Jóhannesson (1949) who proposed a variant of the mouth-gesture theory, an early version of the motor theory for speech perception. Another Icelandic linguist is G. Finnbogason who suggested a number of sound symbolic motivations for features found in Icelandic nicknames. In poetry sound symbolism is abundant, and an interesting work in this area is Nerman (1954). He states that the old “mood words” are surviving in the same way throughout the centuries. Nerman also discusses the relation between sound symbolism and synaesthesia. The 17th century poet Georg Stiernhielm adored sound symbolism, and apart from deliberately applying it in his own writing, he also developed a vast theory of sound symbolism. In this theory he claimed that almost all Swedish words were originally onomatopoeic creations. Furthermore, there has been a debate whether the old rune writing system, from around year 1000 AD, contained sound symbolism, which will be discussed. The paper will present intricately developed theories of sound symbolism as well as making syntheses of different writers’ theoretical assumptions. Edlund, L.-E. (1985) Studier över nordsvenska ortsboöknamn. Umeå. Edlund, L.-E. (1987) Ånamn och binamn — en idéskiss kring 99friare'' ord- och namnbildning. I: Nionde nordiska namnforskarkongressen. NORNA-rapporter 34 (s. 109-149). Uppsala. Fries, S. (1980) Uppgifter inom svensk växtnamnsforskning. I: Saga och sed 1979. Hellquist, E. (1922) Svensk etymologisk ordbok 1-2. 3 uppl. Lund. Ideforss, H. (1928). De primära interjektionerna i nysvenskan. Primära impulsioner och imperationer. Lund: Gleerupska universitetsbokhandeln. Jespersen, O. (1922) Language, its nature, development, and origin. George Allen & Unwin Ltd. London. Jóhannesson, A. (1949) Origin of language: four essays. Reykjavík, H.F Leiftur, Blackwell. Oxford. Kornhall, D. (1968) Sydsvenska fisknamn. Lund Lindroth, H. (1908) Om utvecklingen af ljudförbindelsen euu i nordiska språk. I: Arkiv för nordisk filologi 24. von Linné, C. (1755) Flora Svecica Nyrop, K. (1901) Ordenes liv. Det Schubotheske Forlag. Köbenhavn Nerman, T. (1954) Troll i Ord, Inrim och uddrim i svensk vers. Tidens förlag. Stockholm. Tamm, F. (1887), Fonetiska kännetecken på lånord I nysvenska riksspråket. Upsala Universitets årsskrift 1887. Akademiska boktryckeriet Edv. Berling. Uppsala. Wessén, E. (1961) Våra ord, deras uttal och ursprung

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Språk och litteratur -- Jämförande språkvetenskap och allmän lingvistik (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Languages and Literature -- General Language Studies and Linguistics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

sound symbolism

history

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vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)