Insectophones in the English phonosemantic system

The article is devoted the types of iconic lexis, the term insectophone is introduced and its place in the English phonosemantic system is defined. Insectophones differ from onomatopoeic words, vocatives, interjections, sound imitation words and ideophones. Insectophones take a specific niche in the phonosemantic system and can be regarded as a separate group of iconic lexis with its properties and functions.

insectophones, phonosemantic system, onomatopoeic words, vocatives, sound imitation, ideophonic words, phonetic motivation