WRITE THIS, NOT THAT

The Sound of Speed

“Gee, Julie, what are we gonna do tonight?”

“The same thing we do every night, writer. Try to take over the writing world.”

Today we’re going to focus on speed.

Not speed writing. No, no, no.

Rather, the way sounds within words generate a sense of speed versus a sense of slower movement. We know words can feel “bigger” or “smaller”. They can feel “round” or “narrow”. The connections our minds create between vowel sounds and how they make us feel has been a subject of study for scientists for many years.

Recently, researchers at New York University and University of Southern California explored how certain sensory associations can help companies create more provocative names for products. While their focus was limited to assisting companies in creating powerful brand names, there remains an expeditious lesson for writers.

Their discovery is right up our ally. Certain vowel sounds, like i in spring, are associated with swifter movement. More open vowel sounds, as in plod, dictate slower movement.

Choosing a word based on its sound is not a new trick for writers. Onomatopoeia has been slinging around words like cuckoo, sizzle and hiccup for decades. But what if we choose words based on how fast or slow they sound?

Compare these sentences for speed:

Sarah was dashing across the parking lot.

Sarah was sprinting across the parking lot.

Because they have the same number of syllables, the untrained ear may consider them interchangeable. However, to our finely-tuned writer’s brains, we clearly feel the difference in pace.

Here’s another speed tip. Scientists have learned that most adults instinctively associate O and A sounds with larger, more cumbersome objects while I and E evoke smaller, more delicate objects.

Compare these sentences for speed:

The cat ran across the yard.

The kitten ran across the yard.

Because the i sound is associated in our minds with smaller, speedier objects, in most people's minds the kitten will cross the yard faster than the cat.

It’s unknown why humans make these connections, however, as writers, noticing the corresponding differences in vowels sounds and how they feel in each sentence may go a long way in hastening our respective writing careers toward success!

“Are you pondering what I’m pondering, writer?”

“Yes, Julie, but I think Mr. Roger’s sweater was a more profound fashion statement than leg warmers ever were.”

Narf!

Comments

[Julie]

Thanks for stopping by, Elaine! Good to hear from you again!

[Elaine Stock]

Fascinating stuff, Julie. So sorry I've been away for a while. Nice to visit again!