APS
31st APS Annual Convention · 2019
Can Typeface Affect the Meaning of Words?
- Steve Mansfield
SUNY Plattsburgh - Mallory Carpenter
SUNY College at Plattsburgh - Zierra Dean
SUNY College at Plattsburgh - Taylor West
SUNY College at Plattsburgh
Abstract
Heteronyms (i.e., words that have multiple meanings and pronunciations) were displayed in typefaces that suggested the word’s alternate meanings (e.g., “wound” printed in CurleyShirley versus BloodyStump). Surprisingly, typeface had little effect on how participants read the words, suggesting that typeface does not affect the meaning ascribed to words.
Perception
