ll definitely extend the length of the game. Keep in mind you can always play half now and half later.
An advanced variation is to see how many new words you can make using the letters from each word. (For instance, chair makes hi, car, hair, char, etc.) Again, put each pair of words at the top of a separate sheet of scratch paper and list the results underneath.
Interpreting your word association answers:
If you want to apply the following method of interpretation to your own word choice answers, then you should stop reading, not this very second but before you get to the method. (I’ll tell you when.) Otherwise your answers will not be natural. . .no matter how good your intentions are. So, first you need to play word association with a friend or spouse. Have the person write down 25 nouns. You know the rest. Just be sure the answers are written down. Switch roles if you want, so you can compare results. Stop reading here if you want to interpret your own answers.
One method to interpret word association answers is to distinguish between metaphoric and contiguous use of language, as described by Roman Jakobson in the essay, Two Aspects of Language: Metaphor and Metonymy. The method simply provides a unique way of looking at word choice. Basically, a metaphoric choice replaces the word with something similar (or opposite). The answer to football is baseball, for instance. Baseball replaces football. It’s similar to it, but it is something new. A contiguous answer combines the item with one of its elements. The answer to football is helmet, for instance. Helmet is an item within the set of things that goes with the game of football.
In terms of literary schools, Roman Jakobson likens the two types of language use to romantic and symbolic trends on the one hand (in the case of metaphoric predominance), and realistic trends on the other (in the case of contiguous predominance). In my experience, most people provide a predominance of contiguous answers. I suspect the more comfortable a person is with the noun, the more instant is the response to how it works. For example, door invites knob, lamp invites shade, plant invites water. Furthermore, if the person gives an opinionated answer like fun or gross, the answer is also contiguous. So it seems to me the odds are in favor of contiguous answers.
You may be tempted to assign procedural, inside the box vs. non-procedural outside the box thinking to the two types of word choices. There are too many variables to form that conclusion. For instance, someone who is really good at something–playing the piano, for example–is likely to compliment the word piano with one of its prominent features. That would be a contiguous answer. Overall, in terms of general language usage, Jakobson says, “In manipulating the two kinds of connection (similarity and contiguity). . .an individual exhibits his personal style, his verbal predilections and preferences.” 1
The important thing is just to have fun with this activity. Kids are generally tickled by the idea. It gives them an opportunity to play with words, so to speak. Furthermore, using the answers to play rhyming games is a wonderful way to increase familiarity with words and the sounds they make. If you keep score, the activity also provides exposure to simple addition, as well as exposure to the concept of less than, greater than (when comparing totals).
Best of Luck – have fun!
1. Jakobson, Roman. “Two Aspects of Language: Metaphor and Metonymy.” European Literary Theory and Practice- From Existential Phenomenology to Structuralism. 1st ed. New York, New York: Dell Publishing Co., Inc., 1973. Print.