Imageability ratings across languages
Date
2018Author
Rofes, Adrià
Zakariás, Lilla
Ceder, Klaudia
Lind, Marianne
Johansson, Monica Blom
Bjekié, Jovana
Fyndanis, Valantis
Gavarró, Anna
Simonsen, Hanne Gram
Hernández Sacristán, Carlos
Kambanaros, Maria
Kuvač Kraljević, Jelena
Martínez-Ferreiro, Silvia
Mavis, İlknur
Méndez Orellana, Carolina
Sör, Ingrid
Lukács, Ágnes
Tunçer, Müge
Vuksanović, Jasmina
Munarriz Ibarrola, Amaia
Pourquié, Marie
Varlokosta, Spyridoula
Howard, David
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Rofes, A., Zakariás, L., Ceder, K. et al. Imageability ratings across languages. Behav Res (2018) 50: 1187. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-017-0936-0
Abstract
Imageability is a psycholinguistic variable that indicates
how well a word gives rise to a mental image or sensory
experience. Imageability ratings are used extensively in
psycholinguistic, neuropsychological, and aphasiological
studies. However, little formal knowledge exists about whether
and how these ratings are associated between and within
languages. Fifteen imageability databases were crosscorrelated
using nonparametric statistics. Some of these
corresponded to unpublished data collected within a
European research network—the Collaboration of Aphasia
Trialists (COST IS1208). All but four of the correlations were
significant. The average strength of the correlations (rho = .68)
and the variance explained (R2 = 46%) were moderate. This
implies that factors other than imageability may explain 54%
of the results. Imageability ratings often correlate across languages.
Different possibly interacting factors may explain the
moderate strength and variance explained in the correlations:
(1) linguistic and cultural factors; (2) intrinsic differences between
the databases; (3) range effects; (4) small numbers of
words in each database, equivalent words, and participants;
and (5) mean age of the participants. The results suggest that
imageability ratings may be used cross-linguistically.
However, further understanding of the factors explaining the
variance in the correlations will be needed before research and
practical recommendations can be made.