Aleksandra Ćwiek
@acwiek.bsky.social
Phonetician at Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics
Iconicity, multimodality, prominence ✨ and gravel bike 🚴🏼♀️
Iconicity, multimodality, prominence ✨ and gravel bike 🚴🏼♀️
What a pleasure it was to join the Across Acoustics podcast by Kat Setzer from @asa-news.bsky.social together with @susfuchs.bsky.social
We talked about our special issue on #iconicity and #sound #symbolism. It was lots of fun! Listen here:
www.buzzsprout.com/1537384/epis...
#langsky
#linguistics
We talked about our special issue on #iconicity and #sound #symbolism. It was lots of fun! Listen here:
www.buzzsprout.com/1537384/epis...
#langsky
#linguistics
Iconicity and Sound Symbolism - Across Acoustics
For a long time, it was believed that words were mostly arbitrary symbols. However, with advances in our ability to study speech, it has become clear that we must reconsider the fundamental relationsh...
www.buzzsprout.com
August 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
What a pleasure it was to join the Across Acoustics podcast by Kat Setzer from @asa-news.bsky.social together with @susfuchs.bsky.social
We talked about our special issue on #iconicity and #sound #symbolism. It was lots of fun! Listen here:
www.buzzsprout.com/1537384/epis...
#langsky
#linguistics
We talked about our special issue on #iconicity and #sound #symbolism. It was lots of fun! Listen here:
www.buzzsprout.com/1537384/epis...
#langsky
#linguistics
We wtorek miałam przyjemność gościć w audycji Łukasza Badowskiego "Z innej planety" w Radiu RDC. Rozmawialiśmy o ikoniczności w języku. Dziękuję za zaproszenie i zapraszam do wysłuchania! 🗣💬
www.rdc.pl/podcast/z-in...
www.rdc.pl/podcast/z-in...
dr Alekandra Ćwiek
Gość:
dr Aleksandra Ćwiek – językoznawczyni, kieruje w berlińskim Leibniz-Zentrum Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft projektem DFG „Elastyczność i stabilność koordynacji gestów i mowy: dowody z produkc...
www.rdc.pl
July 31, 2025 at 9:54 AM
We wtorek miałam przyjemność gościć w audycji Łukasza Badowskiego "Z innej planety" w Radiu RDC. Rozmawialiśmy o ikoniczności w języku. Dziękuję za zaproszenie i zapraszam do wysłuchania! 🗣💬
www.rdc.pl/podcast/z-in...
www.rdc.pl/podcast/z-in...
W @wyborcza.pl ukazał się artykuł o mojej pracy nad ikonicznością w języku, czyli o tym, jak dźwięki i znaczenia są ze sobą powiązane w naszej percepcji, niezależnie od kultury.
👉 wyborcza.pl/7,75400,3207...
#nauka #językoznawstwo #ikoniczność #polskanauka #multimodalność #langsky #linguistics
👉 wyborcza.pl/7,75400,3207...
#nauka #językoznawstwo #ikoniczność #polskanauka #multimodalność #langsky #linguistics
Językoznawczyni: Niezależnie od kultury większość ludzi intuicyjnie łączy obłe kształty ze słowem "bouba", a kanciaste - z "kiki"
Wbrew powszechnemu przekonaniu, że słowa są jedynie umownymi etykietami dla pojęć, coraz więcej badań pokazuje, że między brzmieniem a znaczeniem istnieją głębokie, międzykulturowe zależności. Zjawisk...
wyborcza.pl
July 3, 2025 at 3:32 PM
W @wyborcza.pl ukazał się artykuł o mojej pracy nad ikonicznością w języku, czyli o tym, jak dźwięki i znaczenia są ze sobą powiązane w naszej percepcji, niezależnie od kultury.
👉 wyborcza.pl/7,75400,3207...
#nauka #językoznawstwo #ikoniczność #polskanauka #multimodalność #langsky #linguistics
👉 wyborcza.pl/7,75400,3207...
#nauka #językoznawstwo #ikoniczność #polskanauka #multimodalność #langsky #linguistics
🗣💬 #iconicity #sound #symbolism
I'm happy to share a special issue I had the pleasure to edit together with @susfuchs.bsky.social and Jody Kreiman. I'm very grateful to all the contributors for sharing their work as a part of this collection 🎉 pubs.aip.org/jasa/collect...
I'm happy to share a special issue I had the pleasure to edit together with @susfuchs.bsky.social and Jody Kreiman. I'm very grateful to all the contributors for sharing their work as a part of this collection 🎉 pubs.aip.org/jasa/collect...
Iconicity and Sound Symbolism
Iconicity and sound symbolism – long considered peripheral to linguistic theory – have emerged as central topics in understanding how language links form and me
pubs.aip.org
June 26, 2025 at 11:59 AM
🗣💬 #iconicity #sound #symbolism
I'm happy to share a special issue I had the pleasure to edit together with @susfuchs.bsky.social and Jody Kreiman. I'm very grateful to all the contributors for sharing their work as a part of this collection 🎉 pubs.aip.org/jasa/collect...
I'm happy to share a special issue I had the pleasure to edit together with @susfuchs.bsky.social and Jody Kreiman. I'm very grateful to all the contributors for sharing their work as a part of this collection 🎉 pubs.aip.org/jasa/collect...
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
Watch out, here is a collection of papers on Sound Symbolism, edited by @acwiek.bsky.social, Jody Kreiman and me in #JASA with some inspiring contributions from different scholars. pubs.aip.org/jasa/collect.... More coming soon, Aleksandra and I were asked to do a podcast.
Iconicity and Sound Symbolism
Iconicity and sound symbolism – long considered peripheral to linguistic theory – have emerged as central topics in understanding how language links form and me
pubs.aip.org
June 20, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Watch out, here is a collection of papers on Sound Symbolism, edited by @acwiek.bsky.social, Jody Kreiman and me in #JASA with some inspiring contributions from different scholars. pubs.aip.org/jasa/collect.... More coming soon, Aleksandra and I were asked to do a podcast.
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
This is incredible. Wait about 20 seconds into this clip. 🙃
April 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This is incredible. Wait about 20 seconds into this clip. 🙃
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
Excited for the 1st RTG SFB 1646 & Friends Symposium today and @acwiek.bsky.social‘s talk on "The RISE of a PhD: Navigating
Chaos, Crisis, and Success in Academia."
Chaos, Crisis, and Success in Academia."
April 2, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Excited for the 1st RTG SFB 1646 & Friends Symposium today and @acwiek.bsky.social‘s talk on "The RISE of a PhD: Navigating
Chaos, Crisis, and Success in Academia."
Chaos, Crisis, and Success in Academia."
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction theconversation.com/...
Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction
There are some 60 languages spoken on the Tibetan Plateau. But harsh Chinese policies mean many minority languages may not be passed down to future generations.
theconversation.com
March 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Tibet is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. This is in danger of extinction theconversation.com/...
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
JOB ALERT in #language and #linguistics!
Postdoc Position at the Center for Language Evolution Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.
Job offer here: www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
We are now looking at a broader candidate pool so do consider applying!
Please repost & share widely!
Postdoc Position at the Center for Language Evolution Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.
Job offer here: www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
We are now looking at a broader candidate pool so do consider applying!
Please repost & share widely!
March 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
JOB ALERT in #language and #linguistics!
Postdoc Position at the Center for Language Evolution Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.
Job offer here: www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
We are now looking at a broader candidate pool so do consider applying!
Please repost & share widely!
Postdoc Position at the Center for Language Evolution Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.
Job offer here: www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
We are now looking at a broader candidate pool so do consider applying!
Please repost & share widely!
Such a great place to work and live in! Toruń is magical and the CLES group makes it even better. If you’re looking for a postdoc, this is an opportunity to go for!
Cool postdoc position in language evolution in Toruń
www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
Employment Opportunities at NCU - Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń website. Employment Opportunities at NCU
www.umk.pl
March 7, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Such a great place to work and live in! Toruń is magical and the CLES group makes it even better. If you’re looking for a postdoc, this is an opportunity to go for!
How do sounds connect to meaning? 🎙️👀
In this short video, I introduce my research on linguistic iconicity and multimodality. 👐💬
Part of #DGfS macht Schule, a video series that highlights why #linguistics matters in education. It’s in German – take a look! 🎥
In this short video, I introduce my research on linguistic iconicity and multimodality. 👐💬
Part of #DGfS macht Schule, a video series that highlights why #linguistics matters in education. It’s in German – take a look! 🎥
Warum sprechen wir mit Kindern in einer hohen Stimme, mit Vorgesetzten aber in einer tieferen? Ist 'bouba' in allen Sprachen eher rund als 'kiki'? Warum ist das wichtig für die Schule? Alexandra Čwiek zu #Multimodalität & #Ikonizität in unserem neusten #DGfS Video auf YouTube: youtu.be/coVheXE4jsk
DGfS macht Schule #13: Ikonizität und Multimodalität. Mit Aleksandra Ćwiek
YouTube video by DGfS macht YouTube
youtu.be
February 28, 2025 at 8:57 AM
How do sounds connect to meaning? 🎙️👀
In this short video, I introduce my research on linguistic iconicity and multimodality. 👐💬
Part of #DGfS macht Schule, a video series that highlights why #linguistics matters in education. It’s in German – take a look! 🎥
In this short video, I introduce my research on linguistic iconicity and multimodality. 👐💬
Part of #DGfS macht Schule, a video series that highlights why #linguistics matters in education. It’s in German – take a look! 🎥
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
The University of Helsinki is looking for a lecturer in Finno-Ugric linguistics: jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
University lecturer in Finno-Ugric linguistics
University lecturer in Finno-Ugric linguistics
jobs.helsinki.fi
January 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The University of Helsinki is looking for a lecturer in Finno-Ugric linguistics: jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki...
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
JOB ALERT! Come work with me!
34-Month Postdoc Position here at the Center for Language Evolution Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in my project "Paths to Polysemy"
Job offer here: www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
Please repost & share widely!
34-Month Postdoc Position here at the Center for Language Evolution Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in my project "Paths to Polysemy"
Job offer here: www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
Please repost & share widely!
January 24, 2025 at 8:00 AM
JOB ALERT! Come work with me!
34-Month Postdoc Position here at the Center for Language Evolution Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in my project "Paths to Polysemy"
Job offer here: www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
Please repost & share widely!
34-Month Postdoc Position here at the Center for Language Evolution Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in my project "Paths to Polysemy"
Job offer here: www.umk.pl/en/jobs/?tas...
Please repost & share widely!
Another great paper from our special issue on #iconicity and #sound symbolism!
There are still some more exciting papers to come and soon we will be compiling them to an amazing collection. Thanks to all the contributors! ✨
There are still some more exciting papers to come and soon we will be compiling them to an amazing collection. Thanks to all the contributors! ✨
SPECIAL ISSUE: ICONICITY AND SOUND SYMBOLISM
This work shows that deaf-and-Hard-of-Hearing participants can judge the sound symbolic match between shapes and words at the same level of accuracy as hearing participants do: doi.org/10.1121/10.0...
#acoustics
This work shows that deaf-and-Hard-of-Hearing participants can judge the sound symbolic match between shapes and words at the same level of accuracy as hearing participants do: doi.org/10.1121/10.0...
#acoustics
January 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Another great paper from our special issue on #iconicity and #sound symbolism!
There are still some more exciting papers to come and soon we will be compiling them to an amazing collection. Thanks to all the contributors! ✨
There are still some more exciting papers to come and soon we will be compiling them to an amazing collection. Thanks to all the contributors! ✨
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
Abwechslung zwischen den Bad News: Die Luingistik hat untersucht, wie wir das gerollte R wahrnehmen (bin ja persönlich Fan von dem Laut 😄). Was das für die Frage bedeutet, wie sich Sprache einst entwickelt haben könnte, hat mir @acwiek.bsky.social erklärt.(T+)
www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/rrrrr...
www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/rrrrr...
Rrrrrrrrrrrr: Warum wir weltweit dasselbe bei diesem Laut fühlen
Nach welcher Logik haben Urmenschen Laute geformt? Um dem näherzukommen, testete eine Berliner Linguistin, was wir mit zwei markanten Lauten verbinden. Das Ergebnis gleicht sich über Kulturen hinweg.
www.tagesspiegel.de
January 10, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Abwechslung zwischen den Bad News: Die Luingistik hat untersucht, wie wir das gerollte R wahrnehmen (bin ja persönlich Fan von dem Laut 😄). Was das für die Frage bedeutet, wie sich Sprache einst entwickelt haben könnte, hat mir @acwiek.bsky.social erklärt.(T+)
www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/rrrrr...
www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/rrrrr...
I’m super happy to be featured in an article written by @evamurasov.bsky.social in the @tagesspiegel.de about our studies on R/L and bouba/kiki 💭🗯️ please look also at the great illustration that comes with it! 💥✨
www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/rrrrr...
www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/rrrrr...
Rrrrrrrrrrrr: Warum wir weltweit dasselbe bei diesem Laut fühlen
Nach welcher Logik haben Urmenschen Laute geformt? Um dem näherzukommen, testete eine Berliner Linguistin, was wir mit zwei markanten Lauten verbinden. Das Ergebnis gleicht sich über Kulturen hinweg.
www.tagesspiegel.de
January 9, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I’m super happy to be featured in an article written by @evamurasov.bsky.social in the @tagesspiegel.de about our studies on R/L and bouba/kiki 💭🗯️ please look also at the great illustration that comes with it! 💥✨
www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/rrrrr...
www.tagesspiegel.de/wissen/rrrrr...
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
Words for emotions are differently connected in human groups from various regions and language families. Emotion experiences may vary across cultures. Analyzing the diverse ways that people use language can yield insights into human cognition. An interesting read! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Emotion semantics show both cultural variation and universal structure
Analysis of the terms used for emotions across a sample of 2474 spoken languages reveals low similarity across cultures.
www.science.org
January 7, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Words for emotions are differently connected in human groups from various regions and language families. Emotion experiences may vary across cultures. Analyzing the diverse ways that people use language can yield insights into human cognition. An interesting read! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
I couldn’t move for a postdoc. Fellowship reviewers shouldn’t have penalized me for it www.science.org/content/arti...
I couldn’t move for a postdoc. Fellowship reviewers shouldn’t have penalized me for it
“I wish funding agencies were more open to supporting scientists who want to stay rooted to one location,” this scientist writes
www.science.org
December 28, 2024 at 1:06 AM
I couldn’t move for a postdoc. Fellowship reviewers shouldn’t have penalized me for it www.science.org/content/arti...
#SaveBrainCity protesting against budget shortcuts in Berlin 💪
December 19, 2024 at 8:50 AM
#SaveBrainCity protesting against budget shortcuts in Berlin 💪
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
Bill Labov died this morning. I'm not coherent enough to talk about how important and influential and brilliant he was. I am very sad.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
December 18, 2024 at 2:08 AM
Bill Labov died this morning. I'm not coherent enough to talk about how important and influential and brilliant he was. I am very sad.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
In remembrance of Bill Labov
In Remembrance – Væl Space
jofrhwld.github.io
December 18, 2024 at 4:09 AM
In remembrance of Bill Labov
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
Does sound symbolism show up in real language? Do real words for spiky things sound "spiky"? Words for small things sound "small"?
I'm excited to share this new review paper summarising the existing work by myself and many others on these questions!
compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
I'm excited to share this new review paper summarising the existing work by myself and many others on these questions!
compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Sound Symbolism in the Lexicon: A Review of Iconic‐Systematicity
Sound symbolism refers to associations between language sounds (i.e., phonemes) and particular properties (e.g., certain shapes). For example, phonemes like /m/ are associated with roundness, while p....
compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 4, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Does sound symbolism show up in real language? Do real words for spiky things sound "spiky"? Words for small things sound "small"?
I'm excited to share this new review paper summarising the existing work by myself and many others on these questions!
compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
I'm excited to share this new review paper summarising the existing work by myself and many others on these questions!
compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
I made a starter pack of Iconicity Researchers!
Please message me if you’d like to be added, or have suggestions for anyone else who should be added!
go.bsky.app/C2F5iKC
Please message me if you’d like to be added, or have suggestions for anyone else who should be added!
go.bsky.app/C2F5iKC
December 14, 2024 at 7:19 PM
I made a starter pack of Iconicity Researchers!
Please message me if you’d like to be added, or have suggestions for anyone else who should be added!
go.bsky.app/C2F5iKC
Please message me if you’d like to be added, or have suggestions for anyone else who should be added!
go.bsky.app/C2F5iKC
Reposted by Aleksandra Ćwiek
Overreliance on English hinders cognitive science
– premature claims of universality (due to over-sampling of English speakers)
– limited cognitive constructs being examined (due to the use of English as a meta-language)
(doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2022.09.015) 🐦🐦
– premature claims of universality (due to over-sampling of English speakers)
– limited cognitive constructs being examined (due to the use of English as a meta-language)
(doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2022.09.015) 🐦🐦
December 4, 2024 at 2:42 PM
Overreliance on English hinders cognitive science
– premature claims of universality (due to over-sampling of English speakers)
– limited cognitive constructs being examined (due to the use of English as a meta-language)
(doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2022.09.015) 🐦🐦
– premature claims of universality (due to over-sampling of English speakers)
– limited cognitive constructs being examined (due to the use of English as a meta-language)
(doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2022.09.015) 🐦🐦