Decoding Phonetic Meaning in a Semantically Meaningful Lexicon: Sound Symbolism in Steam Game Titles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/45x7v685Keywords:
Sound Symbolism, Steam, Game Titles, Game GenreAbstract
It is widely believed that the marriage between a word’s sound and meaning is not an arranged one. A major exception to this, however, is sound symbolism. Inspired by previous research on the extensive use of sound symbolic associations in naming practices, this study directed attention towards the titles of popular games on Steam, which, unlike brand names, are mostly composed of semantically meaningful lexical items. The results showed that Action/Adventure/RPG game titles contained more voiced obstruents and fewer low vowels than Strategy/Simulation game titles. Additional research could delve into the interplay between semantic and phonetic meanings conveyed by names and titles.
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