Clanging (or clang associations) is a symptom of mental disorders, primarily found in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.[1] This symptom is also referred to as association chaining, and sometimes, glossomania.
Steuber defines it as "repeating chains of words that are associated semantically or phonetically with no relevant context".[2] This may include compulsive rhyming or alliteration without apparent logical connection between words.
Clanging refers specifically to behavior that is situationally inappropriate. While a poet rhyming is not evidence of mental illness, disorganized speech that impedes the patient's ability to communicate is a disorder in itself, often seen in schizophrenia.[3]