A recent study uncovers a widespread link between the trilled R sound and rough or jagged textures, while the L sound tends to be associated with smooth surfaces or straight lines. This effect appears to be more consistent across cultures than the well-known bouba/kiki phenomenon, offering new insights into sound symbolism in language. The findings indicate that these sound-shape associations may have played a role in the development of spoken languages, possibly explaining the prevalence of trilled R sounds despite their articulatory difficulty.

Key Facts:

• 94% of participants associated the trilled R with jagged lines, indicating a strong cross-cultural trend.
• The pattern held true even in languages that lack the trilled R, such as Mandarin and Japanese.
• The connection between R/L sounds and texture or shape appears more universal than the bouba/kiki effect.

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