If you repeat a word enough times, its meaning disappears. This peculiarity, called semantic satiation, occurs when speech is turned into empty sounds after rapid repetition. The concept was first described in a 1907 article in The American Journal of Psychology, but the term itself was not introduced until 1961.
Bernard J. Baars describes the experience in his book, In the Theater of Consciousness: The Workspace of the Mind:
“‘Semantic satiation’ is a metaphor of sorts, of course, as if neurons are little creatures to be filled up with the word until their little bellies are full, they are sated and want no more.”
It’s satiating to know that “semantic satiation” is a real concept. Say that thirty times fast, and experience the phenomenon of making words lose all of their meaning.
(Image via Rémi Lanvin)
