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Homework answers / question archive / Linguistic Q1a: In the Pokemon game, players collect creatures called Pokemon
Linguistic
Q1a: In the Pokemon game, players collect creatures called Pokemon. With enough training and points, creatures can evolve into a bigger, stronger versions. When a Pokemon evolves, it also gets a different name. Your job is to discover some of the linguistic patterns in the evolution of Pokemon names.
Here's an example: Charmander evolves into Charmeleon Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto Paras evolves into Parasect In this set, when each Pokemon evolves, its name adds a syllable. There are also some vowel changes, but these are not consistent across the set. What is consistent across all three names is that the evolved name is one syllable longer than the unevolved name. For each of the following three sets of names, your job is to discover and describe the pattern of name changes that is common across the set. Set A: Pikachu evolves into Raichu Espeon evolves into Umbreon Snubbull evolves into Granbull Meditite evolves into Medicham Kricketot evolves into Kricketune Set B: Ka buto evolves into Kabutops Ratatta evolves into Raticate Togepi evolves into Togetic Hitmonlee evolves into Hitmonchan Stunky evolves into Skuntank Mudbray evolves into Mudsdale Cacnea evolves into Cacturne Zorua evolves into Zoroark Set C: Dragonair evolves into Dragonite Duskull evolves into Dusclops Helioptile evolves into Heliolisk
b. We learned that most word forms in most languages are arbitrary, while occasionally words that describe sounds are iconic (such as crash, boom. tick). How does the pattern found in Japanese Pokemon names relate to the idea of arbitrariness/iconicity? Explain your reasoning. (4 points)