1. By: Sachi Simpson Grade 9
The Bouba-Kiki Effect
By: Sachi Simpson
Grade 9

2. Problem
The problem addressed in this project is testing to see how far the language barrier goes Romance and Germanic languages, and whether it effects the way one pairs sounds with images.
This project was chosen to learn more about language and to explore whether different languages have more in common than what is thought.

3. Research English is a Germanic language French is a Romance Language
Derived from the Frisian language
French is a Romance Language
Derived from Latin
Wolfgang Kohler
German-American psychologist
First to observe the Bouba-Kiki effect
Used “takete” and “baluba”
Bouba-Kiki effect is seen when most people name the round shape “bouba” and most name the jagged shape “kiki”
95% of people will answer correctly
In autistic children however, only 60% will answer correctly
This has been observed in children as young as 3 years old who are not yet able to read.

4. Hypothesis
If a group of French-speaking people and a group of English-speaking people are asked to name two different shapes either Bouba or Kiki and Beebee or Kouka then most will answer “correctly”, despite different first languages.
Kiki / Kouka Bouba / Beebee

5. Procedure
Asked a group of French-speaking people to name the two shapes either Bouba or Kiki and then the same two shapes either Beebee or Kouka.
Repeated step one except with a group of English-speaking people.

6. Variables Independent Variable: Either French or English.
Dependent Variable: How they answer.
Controlled Variable: The two shapes - Bouba-Kiki; Beebee-Kouka.
Control group- group of English-speaking people

7. Percentages are language to total.
Trial one-English
Trial two-French

8. Percentages are Language to total.
Trial one- English
Trial two- French

11. Conclusion
Most picked Kiki for the hard-sided shape and bouba for the soft-sided shape
Hard “k” sound
Softer “b” sound
Hypothesis was supported.
Beebee and Kouka was split almost down the middle.
More picked Kouka for hard-sided shape and Beebee for soft-sided shape.
“ee” sound- hard shape
“ou” sound- soft shape

12. Improvements
More language groups
More subjects/trials

13. Thanks http://www.answers.com/topic/english-language
Thank you
Any questions?