A Complete Real-World Theory of Language Should Explain How Iconicity Remains a Stable Property of Linguistic Systems.

Marcus Perlman,Greg Woodin

doi:10.5334/joc.166

Marcus Perlman, Greg Woodin

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5334/joc.166

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Abstract

Murgiano et al. make a compelling case for studying iconicity in multimodal face-to-face interaction, but they appear ambivalent about the importance of iconicity at the level of the linguistic system. We argue that, rather than decreasing over time, iconicity is a stable property of languages. Understanding how and why this is so is critical to building a complete real-world theory of language that bridges the situated context of language use with language as an evolving symbolic system. An important point for future research is to examine the interface between iconic prosody and the latent iconic features of words and signs that are frozen in the linguistic system.

Highlights

We argue that it is a misconception that languages generally become more arbitrary over time
Even English, the study of which Murgiano et al blame for the historical over-emphasis on arbitrariness in linguistics, features iconicity throughout its vocabulary (Winter & Perlman, 2021). Such findings imply that iconicity is a stable property of these linguistic systems, and not just a characteristic of situated communication contexts
Understanding how and why this is so is critical to building a complete real-world theory of language – one that bridges the situated context of language use with language as an evolving symbolic system

Summary

Introduction

We argue that it is a misconception that languages generally become more arbitrary over time. Of English Language & Linguistics, GB m.perlman@bham.ac.uk A Complete Real-World Theory of Language Should Explain How Iconicity Remains a Stable Property of Linguistic Systems.

Results

Conclusion