Sound symbolism in children’s speech: analysis based on parental survey

Abstract

This article examines the phenomenon of sound symbolism in the early speech of Kazakh-speaking children based on a parental survey. The main objective of the study is to identify the relationships between sound and meaning, sound and perception, and sound and emotion in the speech of children aged 1–5 years and to describe the forms of sound symbolism in early language development. The empirical data were collected through an online questionnaire conducted via Google Forms. A total of 51 respondents participated in the study, providing observations about their children's speech behavior. The results show that onomatopoeic expressions are widely used in children's early vocabulary. These sound-imitating forms are actively employed to represent animal sounds, natural phenomena, mechanical movements, and emotional states. The findings also reveal that children intuitively associate specific sound patterns with visual shapes, reflecting the well-known bouba–kiki effect. Rounded shapes tend to be associated with labial and back vowels, whereas sharp or angular shapes are linked with tense and front sounds. The study further demonstrates that sound symbolism is not limited to visual associations but also appears at tactile and emotional levels. Children often express emotions through distinctive vocalizations: open and prolonged vowels are typical for fear and surprise, while compressed and tense sounds frequently indicate anger or frustration. In addition, some children create their own lexical forms, showing phonesthetic patterns and creative sound-based categorization. Overall, the findings suggest that sound symbolism functions as an important cognitive mechanism in early language acquisition and plays a significant role in organizing meaning in children's speech.