PubHawk
February 2013 PMID 23121711

"Bouba" and "Kiki" in Namibia? A remote culture make similar shape-sound matches, but different shape-taste matches to Westerners.

Andrew J Bremner, Serge Caparos, Jules Davidoff, Jan de Fockert, Karina J Linnell, Charles Spence

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Mentions

19
Peak: 3 in Aug 2020
across 6 sources since Aug 2020

Extended reach

4,910,342
potential audience

Total likes

136,312

Video views

4,910,232

Mentions per month

Aug 2020 – Apr 2024

Where it's discussed

  • News10 articles
  • Bluesky2 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Blogs2 articles
  • X / Twitter1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall discussions reflect curiosity about cultural differences in sensory associations, with comments like observing the effect in Namibian cultures and pondering if sign languages have similar crossmodal links. The tone is inquisitive, highlighting a desire to connect the research to broader contexts, but without strong opinions or decisive conclusions.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

The discussions show mixed reactions, with one acknowledging the observed effects in remote cultures but not expressing strong disagreement or agreement.

InterestModerate interest

There is a moderate level of curiosity, especially in contemplating related phenomena and applications like sign languages.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants are engaging with the topic by sharing observations and asking questions about broader implications, but the depth remains moderate.

ImpactNeutral impact

The discussions do not seem to cause significant shifts in understanding or prompt widespread new considerations, indicating a neutral impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The Bouba-Kiki effect, a common phenomenon where people associate certain shapes with sounds and tastes, is observed not only in Western populations but also among the Himba people of Namibia, who have limited exposure to Western culture and do not use written language.
  • Unlike Westerners, the Himba do not consistently associate carbonation with angular shapes and tend to link less bitter tastes like milk chocolate to angular shapes, which is the opposite of Western patterns.
  • These findings suggest that cultural, environmental, and evolutionary factors significantly influence how different groups perceive and connect shapes, sounds, and tastes across cultures.]
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Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Alessandro Dornelles
@aledornelles26 · X

@rogerioangelin @aogakid O efeito já foi observado em culturas remotas na Namíbia e em crianças que não sabem falar, então não https://t.co/RjCkbNLS1q https://t.co/RMEAPBOwS3

Mar 7, 2023 · 2 likes · 111 followers View post →
Dr. Giordon Stark
@giordonstark.com · Bluesky

I wonder if folx like @jmhenner know the answer to this, but I watched this @tomscott video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TDIAObsqcs) on crossmodal correspondence and I wonder if there's an #ASL or #SignLanguages equivalent?

Aug 25, 2020 View post →

All mentions

Alessandro Dornelles
@aledornelles26 · X

@rogerioangelin @aogakid O efeito já foi observado em culturas remotas na Namíbia e em crianças que não sabem falar, então não https://t.co/RjCkbNLS1q https://t.co/RMEAPBOwS3

Mar 7, 2023 · 2 likes · 111 followers View post →
Dr. Giordon Stark
@giordonstark.com · Bluesky

I wonder if folx like @jmhenner know the answer to this, but I watched this @tomscott video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TDIAObsqcs) on crossmodal correspondence and I wonder if there's an #ASL or #SignLanguages equivalent?

Aug 25, 2020 View post →
Dr. Giordon Stark
@giordonstark.com · Bluesky

I wonder if folx like @jmhenner know the answer to this, but I watched this @tomscott video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TDIAObsqcs) on crossmodal correspondence and I wonder if there's an #ASL or #SignLanguages equivalent?

Aug 25, 2020 View post →