L3S5 – Option Analyse du discours publicitaire
5
The Effective Echo -- a Dictionary of Advertising Slogans
,
by Valerie Noble
The
TheThe
The
Psychology of the Slogan
Psychology of the SloganPsychology of the Slogan
Psychology of the Slogan
In the continuing mental process of sorting, storing and discarding, there is a tendency to
reduce conceptual thought to its simplest form. Unless trained early in abstract thinking, the
human mind works best in patterns. It continually searches for likenesses and relationships. No
matter how long an impression or thought lies buried, patterned association will often trigger
memory to full recall of long-stored items. Or, to put it another way, ideas and images do not
start independently in the mind but, as links in a chain, there is one before and one following
after. This partially explains the magical power of a metaphor and simile in joining like to unlike,
familiar to unfamiliar. Strange combinations and associations are more likely to be remembered
than the ordinary. The imagination never stops working. The constant process of reflection,
association, rationalization and analyzation generalizes and abstracts, plans and predicts,
accepts and rejects, wanders and burrows.
As a result of this unique mental process, valid psychological use of language and writing is
strongly related to that same organized phenomena. Or, stated in a slightly different framework:
'People respond no less to the stimulus that revives a concrete picture or memory than to words
that rouse the emotions; no less to novelty than to repetition, rhyme, rhythm or old
associations.' (Phyllis Robbins,
An Approach to Composition Through Psychology)
The Importance of the Slogan
The Importance of the Slogan The Importance of the Slogan
The Importance of the Slogan
Thus, within the functions of memory, the slogan acts as a handle. It is a mnemonically
structured device which is a conscious or unconscious effort to hook into the reader's
subconscious. Used effectively, it can succeed as no other single element in advertising can.
Committed to memory, that phrase can be an effective spur to brand loyalty. It is the only aspect
of an advertisement which has the chance of becoming a contemporary figure of speech or part
of everyday speech patterns. Its success, and the resultant realized dream of becoming a
household word, is usually accomplished by repetition, regardless of correct grammar or even of
questionable benefits or common sense. Beyond casual conversation, it will likely follow further
trails into cartoons, editorial matter and, not infrequently, into parody.
Lucas and Britt
(Advertising Psychology and Research)
have noted: 'People sometimes pick up
slogans or catch phrases from advertising purely for use in conversation. Later, they find
themselves making important market choices on the basis of these same compelling words.
Here, the slogan has done its job in merchandising the product as part of the overall plan.'
Corporate Poetry
The rhythmic aspect of writing and speech has a staying quality, the power of living on in the
mind. Mario Pei has written
(The Story of Language)
that: 'The language of poetry frequently
reflects a syntactical freedom which the colloquial tongue has relinquished. Poetic license ¶ may
also be viewed as a modern extension of archaic conditions, when the abundance of flexional
endings permitted a greater range in word-order.'
In the pre-analytical days of the late 19th century, those poets laureate of early advertising
somehow capitalized on the knowledge that through rhymes they could create a solid product
awareness. The advertising sloganman took advantage of the fact that poetry is easily
remembered and related to other subjects - in this instance, products to be sold. He profited
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6
from the appeal of imagery which readily kindled the imagination.
The effective slogan with its musical structure was used and is used to build or create an image
in the mind. To this day, advertising writers are encouraged to follow the long-standing tradition
of utilizing a rhyming scheme., Sloganeers are still advised to create a phrase which will rhyme
with the brand or company name - an idea which might be termed corporate poetry.
Memory Methods
Memory MethodsMemory Methods
Memory Methods
The following phrases illustrate the debt of advertising slogans to memory association, rhythm,
poetry and music.
ALLITERATION
ALLITERATION ALLITERATION
ALLITERATION Two or more syllable sounds, sound groups or letters at the beginning of words
in a phrase, as:
o Portable Power for Progress
o Sell Simpson and Be Sure
METAPHOR
METAPHORMETAPHOR
METAPHOR To suggest a resemblance, a term is applied which is not literally applicable, as:
o A Rainbow of Distinctive Flavors
o The Money Truck
SIMILE
SIMILESIMILE
SIMILE To express a resemblance of one thing to another, using "like" or "as if", as:
o Sleeping on a Seely Is Like Sleeping on a Cloud
ALLUSION
ALLUSION ALLUSION
ALLUSION Link to a literary character or situation or to a proverb or topical saying, as:
o The Strength of Gibraltar
o Don't Be a Pale Face
HYPERBOLE
HYPERBOLE HYPERBOLE
HYPERBOLE Extravagant statement not intended to be understood literally, as:
o The One Man Gang (Slogan pour un catcheur célèbre)
CHIASMUS
CHIASMUSCHIASMUS
CHIASMUS Inversion in the second of two parallel clauses or phrases of the structure of the first,
as:
o Sells Hard Wherever Hardware Sells
o At Last a Perfume That Lasts
ANALOGY
ANALOGYANALOGY
ANALOGY Comparison of similarities in two things:
o Our Work is Child's Play
o A Diamond Is Forever
PERSONIFICATION
PERSONIFICATIONPERSONIFICATION
PERSONIFICATION Abstract ideas of lifeless objects named as person, as
o The Grass People
o Garrett Is Experience
TRANSFERRED EPHITHET
TRANSFERRED EPHITHETTRANSFERRED EPHITHET
TRANSFERRED EPHITHET Abnormal use of adjective with noun, as:
o Sail a Happy Ship
o Fly the Friendly Skies of United
PUN
PUNPUN
PUN Play on words, as:
o The Sound Approach to Quality (hi-fi)
o When It Rains, It Pours (salt)
o Best Glue in the Joint