ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Phonosemantics

Phonosemantics is the study of how sounds in words can sometimes give us clues or hints about what a word means. This means that certain sounds or combinations of sounds in words might have a certain feeling or association with them that helps to suggest what the word might be describing.

For example, think about the word "sizzle." When we say this word, it has a certain sound to it that makes us think of something hot and cooking, almost like the sound of something frying. This is an example of phonosemantics because the sound of the word (the "s" and "zz" sounds) help to suggest the meaning of the word (something hot and cooking).

Another example is the word "glitter." This word has a certain sound to it that makes us think of something sparkling and shiny. This is because the "gl" sound has a sort of twinkling or sparkling feeling to it, which matches the idea of something glittering or shining.

Overall, phonosemantics is about how the sounds of words can help us to understand their meaning in a deeper way, by providing hints or clues that connect the sound of the word to the idea it represents.