Imageability norms for 90 English spatio-temporal prepositions and semantically similar expressions

Abstract

Imageability norms are presented for 90 single- and multiword spatio-temporal expressions of English including classic prepositions (e.g., at, in front [of]), intransitive prepositions (e.g., away), and common combinations such as up against. This 90-item set is a substantial enlargement and enhancement of a 56-item set collected in relation to a recently published study of phrasal verbs. For nearly half of the expressions in that earlier set there are now revised mean ratings based on proportionally large increases in the number of respondents from whom ratings were obtained. The enlarged set includes 34 newly rated spatio-temporal expressions, 19 of which appear to have no other published imageability rating. The 90-item list appears to be unique in its coverage of multiword prepositions and unusual in that 20% of the ratings pertain to items that raters saw with disambiguating information (e.g., “back, as in move back”). These 90 norms could be useful in many streams of research owing both to the importance of spatio-temporal prepositions in communication and to the well-established association of lexeme imageability with enhanced memorability, speedy mental processing, and learnability.