Iconicity in Word Learning and Beyond: A Critical Review

• Published in: Language and speech Vol. 64; no. 1; pp. 52 - 72
• Main Authors: Nielsen, Alan KS, Dingemanse, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.03.2021; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Bootstrapping; Comprehension; Evidence; Iconicity; Imagery; Lexicon; Vocabulary learning; bootstrapping; learning; Iconicity; communication; comprehension

Interest in iconicity (the resemblance-based mapping between aspects of form and meaning) is in the midst of a resurgence, and a prominent focus in the field has been the possible role of iconicity in language learning. Here we critically review theory and empirical findings in this domain. We disti...