The First Thing You Should Do When Learning a Language

Learn 100% flawless pronunciation.

It's much easier to memorize a word's meaning when you know the correct pronunciation.

This is because the sound a word makes is always eerily reminescent of it's meaning.

The occurrence where the sound of a word seems to mirror its meaning is called phonetic symbolism or sound symbolism. This phenomenon suggests that the elements of a word like vowels, consonants, and syllables can carry meaning that aligns with the actual definition of the word. This is different from onomatopoeia, where words like "buzz" or "whisper" mimic natural sounds.

There are different factors to consider in sound symbolism:

- The Kiki-Bouba effect: The Kiki-Bouba effect is a fascinating phenomenon often observed in sound symbolism studies, where individuals consistently match certain speech sounds to specific visual shapes. In this particular case, people tend to associate the invented word "kiki" with a sharp, spiky shape, and the word "bouba" with a soft, curvy shape. The assumption is that these arbitrary words exhibit a certain inherent quality that creates a subconscious connection between the auditory aspects of the words and the physical properties of the shapes they represent. This effect suggests that even in the absence of a direct linguistic association, our minds are able to perceive and create a relationship between sounds we hear and the corresponding shapes we see. 

Read more about it on the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouba/kiki_effect

  

- Vowel sounds: For instance, high front vowels like 'i' in 'tiny' are often linked with smallness, while low back vowels like 'o' in 'gloomy' suggest largeness or darkness.

  

- Consonant sounds: Words with hard consonants, such as 'k' or 't', tend to be perceived as more aggressive or forceful compared to those with softer consonants, like 'l' or 'm'. For instance, the words "kick", "attack", "cut", and "hit" all imply strong action or force, reflecting the sharp, harsh sounds of 'k' and 't'. On the other hand, the words "lamb", "limber", "mellow", and "calm" contain softer consonants, and they are associated with gentleness or relaxation.

- Cultural variations: While some sound symbolism appears to be universal, such as the Kiki-Bouba effect, much of it can change depending on the individual culture's language and sounds. For example, in English-speaking cultures, the word "hiss" mimics the sound a snake makes, but in Japanese culture, the word is "shaa". Similarly, different languages may use different words to mimic the sound of a crying baby or a loud crash, demonstrating that cultural context greatly influences sound symbolism.

- Applications: Sound symbolism is widely used in branding to create product names that suggest certain qualities or feelings. This can influence a consumer's perspective of a product or service. For example, the brand "Twitter" may evoke the idea of small, rapid-fire communication, akin to the tweeting of birds. "Ferrari" conveys the potential power and luxury associated with the product, offering subtle phonetic suggestions of a fast, daring, and elite vehicle. In contrast, a company named "SoftBank" tries to communicate an image of reliability, comfort, and financial stability through its name.

- Linguistic relativity: Linguistic relativity posits that our language influences our cognitive processes and the way we perceive and experience the world. For example, Inuit languages have numerous words for different kinds of snow, which might offer them a more nuanced understanding of snow compared to someone who speaks a language with fewer such terms. Similarly, the Russian language makes a distinction between light blues and dark blues with different words (goluboy and siniy respectively). This leads to debates around whether Russians perceive these color shades differently from non-Russian speakers. Basically, the discussion revolves around how our linguistic system might shape our cognitive abilities and influence our world view.

Even though sound symbolism is a noted occurrence, it's more like a subtle effect rather than a clear-cut rule in language. The definitions of most words are decided by societal agreement, not only their sounds.

Phonoaesthetics studies whether sounds are pleasant or not and how these sounds might bring up feelings or impressions. Words like "mellifluous," which means sweetly or smoothly flowing, have soft sounds. In contrast, the word "grating," meaning an unpleasant noise, has harsh sounds.

Cultural or historical experiences can also link certain sounds with specific meanings or concepts. For example, in English, the "gl-" sound, as in "glow," "gleam," and "glisten," often suggests light or brightness. Similarly, the "sn-" sound can suggest slyness or stealth, as present in words like "sneak," "snitch," and "snoop."

Examples of words which sound like their meaning include "eerie", "slither", "gargantuan", "crisp", and "babble". In these instances, sound symbolism enriches the listener's understanding of the words and reinforces their meanings.

The sounds of certain words can cause a sensory or emotional response that mirrors the word's meaning. Phonetic symbolism implies that certain sounds may bring up a feeling or image consistent with the word's meaning. For example, the word "whisper" sounds soft and quiet, showing the idea of a gentle, hushed tone. Similarly, "gargle" sounds like the act it describes, creating an auditory and sensory connection.

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Another example of sound symbolism is phonaesthemes.

In linguistics, phonaesthemes are sound sequences that, across a set of words, suggest a common meaning or theme. They are not just confined to the initial sounds; they can also be in the word endings or middles. This indication of meaning through sounds contributes to sound symbolism. To expand, consider the following examples:

- The initial sound cluster “gl-” as in "gleam," "glitter," "glisten," "gloss," "glint," "glory," and "glossy." These words all suggest a sense of brightness or shining.

- Pay attention to the "sn-" sound, typically found in words connected with the nose or quick, stealthy movements. Words such as "sneeze," "sniff," "snort," "snot," "sneak," "snitch," "snake," and "snappy" exemplify this.

- The "fl-" sound in words like "flicker," "flash," "flame," "flutter," and "flare" often suggests quick or bright movement. 

- The 'tw-' sound often indicates smallness or a pair, as seen in words like "twig," "twin," "twine," "twist," and "twinkle."

- The "cr-" sound in words like "crack," "crush," "crunch," "crumble," and "crisp" often signals something breaking or being broken.

- The "-ump" sound at the ends of words such as "dump," "lump," "bump," and "thump" generally signifies a heavy fall or hit.

While these are not hard and fast rules of the English language, recognizing these phonaesthemic patterns can help in predicting some aspects of a new or unfamiliar word's meaning. Sound symbolism in this way brings an additional layer of richness and intrigue to language, as the sounds within words can help to subtly convey meaning.

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Overall, sound symbolism helps create a deeper understanding of word meanings by evoking strong emotions, associations, and mental images. This language phenomenon makes language more engaging and richer by using phonetic cues and associations.

So a good first step in language learning, is to learn perfect pronunciation first. So you have an easier time memorizing the words' meanings.

The author Gabriel Wyner said that if you don't learn 100% flawless pronunciation right from the very start, you will end up learning two languages instead of one. Don't find out about it the hard way.