The connotative meanings of sound symbolism in brand names: A conceptual framework

TY - JOUR

T1 - The connotative meanings of sound symbolism in brand names

T2 - A conceptual framework

AU - Motoki, Kosuke

AU - Park, Jaewoo

AU - Pathak, Abhishek

AU - Spence, Charles

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier Inc.

PY - 2022/11

Y1 - 2022/11

N2 - Phonetic elements of brand names can convey a range of specific meanings. However, an integrated understanding of the sound symbolism of brand names remains elusive. Here, we classify sound symbolism in brand names based on three key dimensions of the semantic differential (evaluation, potency, and activity). In particular, we demonstrated that the sound symbolism of brand names can be explained in terms of the two dimensions of evaluation and potency (but not activity). The presence of higher-frequency sounds (front vowels, fricative, and voiceless consonants) in brand names tends to be associated with concepts linked to higher evaluation and lower potency, whereas lower-frequency sounds (back vowels, stop, and voiced consonants) tend to be more strongly associated with concepts linked to lower evaluation and higher potency. This study provides an integrative understanding of sound symbolism in brand names in terms of semantic differential meanings.

AB - Phonetic elements of brand names can convey a range of specific meanings. However, an integrated understanding of the sound symbolism of brand names remains elusive. Here, we classify sound symbolism in brand names based on three key dimensions of the semantic differential (evaluation, potency, and activity). In particular, we demonstrated that the sound symbolism of brand names can be explained in terms of the two dimensions of evaluation and potency (but not activity). The presence of higher-frequency sounds (front vowels, fricative, and voiceless consonants) in brand names tends to be associated with concepts linked to higher evaluation and lower potency, whereas lower-frequency sounds (back vowels, stop, and voiced consonants) tend to be more strongly associated with concepts linked to lower evaluation and higher potency. This study provides an integrative understanding of sound symbolism in brand names in terms of semantic differential meanings.

KW - Phonetics

KW - Brand names

KW - Sound symbolism

KW - Semantic meanings

KW - Vowels

KW - Consonants

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85132717525

U2 - 10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.06.013

DO - 10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.06.013

M3 - Article

SN - 0148-2963

VL - 150

SP - 365

EP - 373

JO - Journal of Business Research

JF - Journal of Business Research

ER -