Good news if you’ve wondered about a word for recognizable images composed of random visual stimuli—that image of Elvis in your grilled-cheese sandwich, for example. It’s pareidolia. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Pareidolia”
I did not know until recently that there’s a word for the phenomenon of seeing images of recognizable objects like faces in places you don’t expect.
You know, like when you see the Virgin Mary in a piece of toast or a cloud that looks like Mr. Magoo.
There’s a word for that, Grant, and it’s pareidolia.
That’s P-A-R-E-I-D-O-L-I-A.
It comes from a Greek word for image, and it’s the same root that gives us idol and kaleidoscope, both of which have to do with images.
And that word, again, for seeing the face of Elvis in your grilled cheese is pareidolia.
I learned it from Dave Wilton’s newsletter about language, which is called The Harmless Drudge, as you know, Grant.
And I think we should put a link to that on our website.
It’s a really interesting article.
You can find that article at waywordradio.org.
And if you’d like to give us a call, the number is 1-877-929-9673.
