Glossary
Tip Of The Tongue Phenomenon
What is the tip of the tongue phenomenon?
The tip of the tongue phenomenon is the frustrating feeling that you know a word or name but cannot retrieve it. The answer seems almost available—just not available enough to say.
What the research showed
In Brown and McNeill's study, people unable to retrieve a word could sometimes report parts of its sound structure, including letters or syllables. Failing to produce the whole word was different from knowing nothing about it.
Why it matters
Retrieval can later succeed, although the time varies. A tip-of-the-tongue experience shows how access to information can be partial.