Abstract
Thirty-six homophones and 36 nonhomophones were presented randomly to 30 Ss in a single response, free association task. The greater dispersion of the response distributions to homophones than to nonhomophone stimuli as well as the longer response latencies to homophones suggested that the associative meaning of homophones is more ambiguous than other elements of the vocabulary and, consequently, that homophone units may be fruitfully employed in research necessitating the use of such ambiguous stimuli. Several such potential uses were discussed along with possible research aimed towards clarifying the phenomenon of homophones per se, apart from their use as research tools.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
CRAMER, P. Word association. New York: Academic Press, 1968.
DEESE, J. The structure of associations in language and thought. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1965.
GALBRAITH, G., & TASCHMAN, C. Homphone units: A normative and methodological investigation of the strength of component elements. Journal of Verbal Learning & Verbal Behavior, 1969, 8, 737–744.
HOWES, D. A word count of spoken English. Journal of Verbal Learning & Verbal Behavior, 1966, 5, 572–604.
LEHMAN, W. Historical linguistics: An introduction. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 1962.
THORNDIKE, E., LORGE, I. The teacher’s word book of 30,000 words. New York: Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1944.
WHITFORD, H. A dictionary of American homophones and homographs. New York: Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1966.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Foote, R. Homophones as ambiguous stimuli in research: A comparison of the associative meaning of homophones and nonhomophones. Psychon Sci 21, 249–251 (1970). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03332468
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03332468