When word sounds like what it is

Onomatopoeia is the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Such words are themselves also called onomatopoeias.

What is onomatopoeia give 5 examples?

Common Examples of Onomatopoeia Machine noises—honk, beep, vroom, clang, zap, boing. Animal names—cuckoo, whip-poor-will, whooping crane, chickadee. Impact sounds—boom, crash, whack, thump, bang. Sounds of the voice—shush, giggle, growl, whine, murmur, blurt, whisper, hiss.

What is the sound of raindrops called?

patter. When something patters, it makes a light, rhythmic, tapping sound. On a rainy night, you might love lying in bed listening to the rain patter on the roof. You can describe the way rain patters, or the way children’s feet patter down the hallway on Christmas morning.

What is an example of an onomatopoeia?

Definition of Onomatopoeia An onomatopoeia is a word that actually looks like the sound it makes, and we can almost hear those sounds as we read. Here are some words that are used as examples of onomatopoeia: slam, splash, bam, babble, warble, gurgle, mumble, and belch.

I’m not talking about onomatopoeia—I don’t mean a word that describes a sound—I mean something along the lines of an aptronym, i.e. a perfect name such as Anthony Camera for a photographer (true story). What is the word for when a word just sounds like exactly what it means? I heard the word for this once, long ago, and have since forgotten it.

«Push» and «Pull» might be examples, in that the sounds they form evoke the physical actions denoted.

asked Jun 7, 2011 at 17:56

Taj Moore's user avatar

Taj MooreTaj Moore

1,5193 gold badges13 silver badges20 bronze badges

Perhaps you’re thinking of an ideophone, a broader idea than just onomatopoeia (not restricted to sound).

Mark Dingemanse explains ideophones:

English, for example, has ideophonic words like glimmer, twiddle, tinkle which are depictive of sensory imagery: their form betrays something of their meaning in ways that words «chair» and «dog» do not.

answered Jun 7, 2011 at 18:30

aedia λ's user avatar

aedia λaedia λ

10.6k9 gold badges44 silver badges69 bronze badges

4

This Wikipedia article may be helpful.

Of the various terms mentioned in the article, phenomime might be close to what you are looking for.

answered Feb 26, 2020 at 12:40

Lanny Strack's user avatar

Table of Contents

  1. What are the examples of common nouns?
  2. What is the name of a word that describes itself?
  3. Where does word come from?
  4. What does the term Otology mean?
  5. What is the term for ringing in your ears?
  6. What is Otology the study of?
  7. What are Otological symptoms?
  8. What is an otologist do?
  9. What is an otorhinolaryngologist?
  10. What is an otolaryngologist NHS?

Onomatopoeia (also onomatopeia in American English), is the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Such a word itself is also called an onomatopoeia.

What are the examples of common nouns?

A common noun is a non-specific person, place, or thing. For example, dog, girl, and country are examples of common nouns. In contrast, proper nouns name a specific person, place, or thing. Common nouns are typically not capitalized, but there are two exceptions to this rule.

What is the name of a word that describes itself?

autological

Where does word come from?

Etymology (/ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/) is the study of the history of words. By extension, the etymology of a word means its origin and development throughout history.

What does the term Otology mean?

Otology is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the ear and its diseases. Otology is a branch of medicine and surgery; as such otologists are also qualified to perform surgical interventions.

What is the term for ringing in your ears?

About 1 in 5 people experience the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. It’s called tinnitus.

What is Otology the study of?

Otology is the study, diagnosis and treatment of ear disorders and diseases.

What are Otological symptoms?

Otological symptoms (otalgia, subjective hearing loss, blocked ear sensation, tinnitus and vertigo) associated with temporomandibular disorders are documented features of Costen’s syndrome. However, the origin of these symptoms and the causes of hearing loss are unknown.

What is an otologist do?

An otologist or neurotologist is a highly specialized ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor who may be able to find the root of your problem and recommend procedures to treat your: Complex ear disease. Hearing loss that could be improved with an implantable hearing device.

What is an otorhinolaryngologist?

So an otorhinolaryngologist is a physician who studied, trained in, and treats diseases of the ear, nose, throat, face, head and neck. The popular acronym for this specialty branch of medicine is ENT, or an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

What is an otolaryngologist NHS?

Otorhinolaryngologists (also known as otolaryngologists or ear, nose and throat or ENT Surgeons) are surgical specialists who diagnose, evaluate and manage a wide range of diseases of the head and neck, including the ear, nose and throat regions.

Answer

As a result of the combining of two Greek words, onoma, which means “name,” and poiein, which means “to create,” the term onomatopoeia literally translates as “to make a name (or sound).” The term has no meaning other than the sound it produces, which is to say it has no meaning at all. Example sentences provide you with the opportunity to view and hear genuine words.

Furthermore, what is the term for when a word seems to sound the same as it does?

Although the term onomatopoeia in the English language refers to the copying of a sound, the Greek word onomatopoeia (?o) is a compound word that literally translates as ‘making or generating names’. When words are used to replicate sounds, the term?(echomimetico) or echomimetic) is used.

Second, what exactly is the definition of the term Ideophone?

Ideophones are words that conjure up a mental image in the listener’s mind, frequently a strong picture of specific feelings or sensory impressions, such as sound (onomatopoeia), movement, colour, form, or action. They are also known as imageophones. The term “ideophone” may be found in many languages throughout the globe, while it is believed that they are rather rare in Western languages.

People have also inquired as to what an example of an onomatopoeia might be.

Examples of Onomatopoeia that are often used Honks, beeps, vrooms, clangs, zaps, and boings are all examples of machine sounds. Cuckoo, whip-poor-will, whooping crane, and chickadee are examples of animal names. Impact noises include: boom, crash, whack, thud, bang, and a variety of other variations. Shush, chuckle, growl, whine, mutter, blurt, whisper, hiss: these are the sounds of the voice.

What is onomatopoeia and can you give me five examples?

For example, the phrases slam, splash, bam, babble, warble, gurgle, mumble, and belch are all used to describe sounds that are onomatopoeia in nature. However, there are hundreds of terms like this!

There were 22 related questions and answers found.

What is the purpose of onomatopoeia?

Onomatopoeia is a word or set of words that, when said aloud, imitates the sound that the word or collection of words is intended to generate. When it comes to written English, onomatopoeia is incredibly important since it allows writers to precisely depict sounds while also making the text much more vibrant and fascinating.

When a word explains itself, what is it referred to as?

IN OTHER WORDS, an autological word is a term that describes itself, while a heterologous word is a word that does not describe itself. HETEROLOGICAL a.

What is the definition of onomatopoeia and what are some examples?

Onomatopoeia is a kind of poetic expression. When it comes to onomatopoeia, which is pronounced on-uh-mat-pee–uh, it is described as a term that imitates the natural noises made by an object. When individuals speak softly, the term “whisper” not only describes their sound, which is wispy or breathy, but it also defines the behaviour of those who speak quietly.

Is the word Oh an example of onomatopoeia or not?

‘Oh’ is not an onomatopoeia, as you would think. It’s a phrasal interjection. Interjections are a feature of speech that are used to show strong emotions or enthusiasm in a brief period of time.

Is the word “gasp” an onomatopoeia?

Instead of using onomatopoeia, verbs such as gasp, pant, and smell might be incorporated into tiny clouds.

Sputtering is an onomatopoeia, according to the dictionary.

sputter. Make a succession of brief, explosive spitting or choking noises to demonstrate your point. Spitting or choking sounds that is brief and explosive.

 

Is Splash an onomatopoeia or a slang term?

The word ‘Splash’ is an onomatopoeia, which means that the sound of the word itself imitates the sound of a splash. While you speak it out loud, you can almost hear the same noise that you made when you were thinking about it.

 

What exactly is a simile for children?

Kids The following is the definition of simile: A simile is a figure of speech that compares two dissimilar objects by using the words like or as. For example, “Their cheeks are like flowers” is a simile. “Their cheeks are roses” is a metaphor for their appearance.

In poetry, what exactly is a simile?

Definition of a simile A simile is a figure of speech that establishes a comparison between two dissimilar objects by emphasising the similarities between them. In contrast to a metaphor, a simile establishes likeness via the use of the terms “like” or “as.” As a result, it is a straightforward comparison. We may discover simile instances in our everyday conversation.

What is an onomatopoeia poetry, and how do you write one?

Onomatopoeia is the usage of words or the arrangement of words in which the sounds of the words mimic the meanings of the words (ex: buzz, honk, boom). Make a resounding exclamation. When used correctly, onomatopoeia is a fantastic poetry method since it adds depth to writing. However, the sounds can only be heard when they are spoken.

What does it sound like when someone slaps you?

A smack or open-handed hit is referred to as a slap, and the sound it produces—or a sound that is similar to it—is also referred to as a slap. Imagine the sound of water lapping on the side of your rowboat, or your mother slapping her magazine against the table after she is through reading it.

What is the correct spelling of the whip sound?

Whip crack or the crack of a whip is the most common name for the sound, and because crack is already an onomatopoeic term, you can’t go wrong with it. Crack! See.

What exactly is a simile?

A simile is a figure of speech that explicitly compares and contrasts two distinct objects or ideas. If the simile is in the form of a phrase, it is most often preceded by the words “as” or “like.” This is distinct from a metaphor, which is likewise a comparison, but in which something is referred to as something other than what it is compared to.

What is literary imagery, and how does it work?

Imagery is a literary phrase that refers to language and description that uses our five senses to elicit a response from the reader. Imagery is used when a writer strives to explain something in such a way that it appeals to our five senses of smell; sight; taste; touch; and hearing; and so on.

What is it called when a word sounds like what it means?

Onomatopoeia

Which bird makes a loud call that sounds like its name?

Cuckoos

What does the term sound mean?

(Entry 1 of 7) 1a : a particular auditory impression : tone. b : the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing. c : mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (such as air) and is the objective cause of hearing.

What are the 3 types of sound?

Sound can be of different types—soft, loud, pleasant, unpleasant, musical, audible (can be heard), inaudible (cannot be heard), etc. Some sounds may fall into more than one category. For instance, the sound produced when an aeroplane takes off is both loud and unpleasant.

What does it mean to be of sound mind?

The broad definition associated with being of sound mind is someone who has the mental capacity to understand what is going on around them and make important decisions involving themselves and their family.

How do you know if someone is a sound mind?

Anyone making a legal document, such as a will, must be of “sound mind” when that document is signed….The general test for soundness of mind is whether the person making the will understands:The meaning and effect of the will;What he or she owns; and.Who the people are to whom he or she is leaving belongings.6 days ago

What is the spirit of timidity?

Timidity is fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions and changes.

How do you get a sound mind?

Ten steps to having a sound mind when you feel like your losing yours….Examine Your Heart. We are all taking steps along the way to our tomorrows one choice at a time. Seek His Face. Adjust Your Attitude. Embrace Intentionality. Look Out for Mind Mines. Develop a Plan. Filter Your Thoughts. Create a Whatever List.

What do God say about fear?

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” “Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the LORD, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand.”

Who is a person of sound mind?

A person is said to be of sound mind for the purposes of making a contract, if , at the time when he makes it, he is capable of understanding it and of forming a rational judgment as to its effect upon his interests.

What is the opposite of a sound mind?

What is the opposite of of sound mind?insanemadhystericalmentally illsectionableloopypsychobananasmaniacalpsychopathic68

What does it mean to be of sound mind and body?

The proverb which is of Greek origin insists that the mind and body should be both healthy and sound. A sound mind means a mind capable of good, positive and free thinking mind. A healthy body is obtained by maintaining a good diet and good exercise to keep the body going.

Where in the Bible does it say sound mind?

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind – Scripture Frame – Bible Verse.

What does compos mentis mean in Latin?

having mastery of one’s mind

What does Compasmentas mean?

not of sound mind

What is the meaning of compos?

1. a mixture of materials, such as mortar, plaster, etc. 2. Australian and New Zealand informal. compensation, esp for injury or loss of work.

What does Compis mean?

compi m (plural compis) (colloquial) mate, buddy (friend)

How do you say compos mentis?

Break ‘compos mentis’ down into sounds: [KOM] + [PUHS] + [MEN] + [TIS] – say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them.

How do you use compos mentis in a sentence?

If there’s anything half decent on television I generally fall asleep, but I’m always fully compos mentis for the Green Bin, Local Buses, Litter In Our Streets stuff though. Mum was compos mentis, considerate, and never one to make a fuss. He was totally compos mentis and knew someone was stealing from him.


Asked by: Samvel Kronbein


asked in category: books and literature Last Updated: 3rd September, 2020

Read everything about it here. In this regard, what is it called when a word sounds like its meaning?

The word onomatopoeia comes from the combination of two Greek words, onoma meaning «name» and poiein meaning «to make,» so onomatopoeia literally means «to make a name (or sound).» That is to say that the word means nothing more than the sound it makes. Examples give you the chance to see and sound out actual words.

Additionally, what is the name of a word that describes itself? HETEROLOGICAL a. In other words, an autological word is a word that describes itself, and a heterological word is a word that does not describe itself. There are lots of examples of autological words below (the main point of this page); some examples of heterological words: ‘long’, ‘French’, ‘tentacled’.

In this way, what is the word for a word that sounds like what it is?

The formation of a word from a sound associated with the thing it describes is known as onomatopoeia; the related adjective is onomatopoeic. It literally means ‘word-making’ (from the Greek onoma, onomat = name and –poios = making). Every onomatopoeia makes use of the sound inventory of the given language.

What is onomatopoeia and its examples?

An onomatopoeia is a word that actually looks like the sound it makes, and we can almost hear those sounds as we read. Here are some words that are used as examples of onomatopoeia: slam, splash, bam, babble, warble, gurgle, mumble, and belch. But there are hundreds of such words!

Straight Dope Message Board

Loading

Select your language

Suggested languages for you:

Illustration

Lerne mit deinen Freunden und bleibe auf dem richtigen Kurs mit deinen persönlichen Lernstatistiken

Jetzt kostenlos anmelden

Illustration

Within phonetics, phonology and prosodics, we look at the sounds produced in human speech. These sounds can be analysed concerning their production and reception (i.e. the physical acts of speaking and listening) or their relationship with meaning.

In this article, we’ll be focussing on the relationship between sounds and meaning, specifically looking at sound symbolism. We’ll start by establishing what sound symbolism is and then look at some key concepts and the different types of sound symbolism with examples to help us understand throughout.

Sound Symbolism Meaning

Sound symbolism is a concept in linguistics that refers to the association between sounds and their meanings.

Sound symbolism is a type of linguistic iconicity and semiotics, meaning there is a link between the icons or signs (letters or words in this instance) and their meaning.

For example, the word ‘ding’ sounds like a bell’s ring.

Semiotics is a field of study that looks at signs (e.g. text, images, colours) and their meanings. We use semiotics to look at how different signs work together to create meaning in context. The American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce and the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure pioneered semiotics.

Ferdinand de Saussure suggested each sign comprises two parts, the signifier and the signified.

  • Signifier = The word, image, sound, or gesture representing a concept or meaning.
  • Signified = The interpretation of the meaning of the signifier.

E.g. A red traffic light is a signifier. Its signified meaning is ‘stop.

Linguistic iconicity is similar to semiotics in that it looks at the relationship between linguistic signs (letters and words) and their meanings. However, unlike semiotics, linguistic iconicity suggests an associated resemblance between the signifier and the signified.

For example, repeating the word ‘bounce’ almost creates the sound of a bouncing ball. Try saying it aloud yourself… can you hear it?

Historically, the relationship between sounds and symbols is thought to be arbitrary, meaning there is no intuitive or natural relationship between a sound, sign or word form and its meaning. However, linguistic iconicity exists because this statement is not always true and some words represent their meanings.

The general basis of sound symbolism is that some words or sounds sound as if they represent certain concepts. For example, some sounds sound small, some big, some bouncy, some spikey, some soft, or some hard. These are just some characteristics that can be attached to particular sounds.

The following quote is from linguist David Crystal; it briefly explains our association between sounds and meanings.

Here’s an experiment. You’re in a spaceship approaching a planet. You’ve been told there are two races on it, one beautiful and friendly to humans, the other unfriendly, ugly and mean-spirited. You also know that one of these groups is called the Lamonians; the other is called the Grataks. Which is which?

‘Most people assume that the Lamonians are the nice guys. It’s all a matter of sound symbolism. Words with soft sounds such as ‘l,’ ‘m,’ and ‘n,’ and long vowels or diphthongs, reinforced by a gentle polysyllabic rhythm, are interpreted as ‘nicer’ than words with hard sounds such as ‘g’ and ‘k,’ short vowels and an abrupt rhythm.’—The Guardian, David Crystal, 2009.

Useful to know: sound symbolism is also known as sound meaningfulness or phonetic symbolism.

Let’s look at the concept of sound-symbol correspondence to ensure we understand sounds and symbols before we look at the different types of sound symbolism.

Sound Symbol Correspondence

A key concept for learning to read, write and speak is sound-symbol correspondence.

Sound-symbol correspondence refers to how each sound has a representative symbol.

For example, the /f/ sound can be represented with the graphemes ‘f’ ‘ph’ or ‘gh’.

Sound-symbol correspondence is the very first step of sound symbolism. Before we can use a language, we have to learn the sounds and the symbols used to represent them.

As Ferdinand de Saussure states, most symbols and sounds have an utterly arbitrary connection (meaning there is no connection between them). Because of this, we have to learn graphemes (written letters), letter clusters (e.g. ‘igh’ and ‘ph’) and whole words and subconsciously commit them to our long-term memory.

However, the sound-symbol correspondence isn’t always arbitrary, and several theorists suggest some sounds have a resemblance or familiarity with the concepts they represent, which is sound symbolism.

Let’s now take a look at some examples of sound symbolism.

Example of Sound Symbolism

Let’s take a look at the word ‘bouncy‘ as an example.

People tend to use a particular rhythm when saying the word ‘bouncy’, and their voices typically have a down-up rhythm. The rhythm goes down through the first syllable ‘boun’ and then goes up again through the second syllable ‘cy.’ This down-up rhythm you get when saying ‘bouncy’ is representative of the meaning of the word: a repetitive up-down motion.

This example shows how letters as individual symbols must be learned for sound-symbol correspondence and have an arbitrary relationship. However, the symbol as a whole (the whole word) elicits a different sound that has an associative (almost intuitive) meaning that corresponds with the sound.

Types of Sound Symbolism

Different types of sound symbolism exist. We’re going to look at some of the most common examples.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is the most common type of sound symbolism and is one you have probably come across before.

Onomatopoeic words are the ones that sound like the concept they represent.

For example, ‘meow’ sounds like a cat’s noise, and ‘ding dong,’ ‘bong’, and ‘toll’ all sound like a large bell’s noise when it’s struck.

Onomatopoeia is commonly used in comics, with words like ‘whoosh,’ ‘smack,’ and ‘kapow’ being used to describe the sound effects that the author imagines happening at specific points in the storyline.

Sound Symbolism Image of comic books StudySmarterFig. 1 — Comic books often contain a lot of onomatopoeia. Unsplash

Ideophones

An ideophone is a word that gives the impression of something sensory, which means the word’s meaning is associated with one of the five senses (e.g. sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch).

Let’s have a look at some examples of sound symbolism in ideophones.

An example of an ideophone would be the word ‘smooth.’ The word ‘smooth’ means something that is even-surfaced without any lumps or bumps, and the word itself is smooth to say, as it is one syllable and all of the sounds slide into each other. ‘Smooth’ relates to the sensory notion of touch.

Another example can be seen in the words used in musical notation. For example, the words ‘staccato’ and ‘legato.’

Staccato’ means the notes are very short and detached.

Legato’ means the notes are played smoothly, without noticeable gaps.

Staccato’ is an ideophone as, when you say it, it has short, detached feeling syllables like the manner of music it represents. ‘Legato’, on the other hand, feels more flowing when you say it, representing smooth, flowing music. These words relate to hearing.

Phonesthemes

Phonestheme is when a sequence of sounds, such as a consonant cluster (e.g. ‘fl’, ‘pr’, and ‘gl’), suggests a specific meaning.

An example of a phonaestheme is the consonant cluster ‘gl.’ This is usually in words that have a meaning related to light, such as:

  • Glow
  • Glitter
  • Gleam
  • Glimmer

These words come from the Germanic word ‘gluoen‘ which means ‘to shine.’ The shared etymology of these words explains why they all have the same consonant cluster ‘gl.’

A second example would be in the consonant cluster ‘sl’, which is often in words that relate to movement, such as:

  • Slip
  • Slide
  • Sluggish
  • Sledging
  • Slow
  • Slovenly
  • Slothful

Magnitude symbolism

Another type of sound symbolism is magnitude symbolism, which is the name given to the automatic size association we place on different vowels. Front or close vowels such as /i/ or /e/ are often associated with small size, while back or open vowels such as /u/ or /a/ are often related to something of a big size.

Front vowels are produced at the front of the mouth, and close vowels are produced with the tongue placed at the top of the mouth.

Back vowels are produced at the back of the mouth, with open vowels produced with the mouth and vocal organs in an open, non-contracted position.

The linguist Edward Sapir tested the magnitude symbolism theory in 1929. He conducted a test where he took two tables of the same size and called one table ‘mil‘ and the other ‘mal’. He then asked participants to state which table they thought was bigger. Even though the tables were the same size, the majority of the participants stated they thought ‘mal‘ was the bigger table.

Bouba/kiki Effect

The bouba/kiki effect is a notable theory in sound symbolism, which aims to show how humans will naturally associate certain types of sounds with certain images. The theory was first introduced in 1929 by the psychologist Wolfgang Köhler. Köhler began his experiments by asking participants to match nonsense words with images. He found that words with front and close vowels and harder sounding consonants, such as ‘takete’, were matched with spikey shapes. In contrast, words with back and open vowels and softer sounding consonants, such as ‘baluba’, were matched with rounded shapes.1

In 2001, the researchers Vilayanur S. Ramachandran and Edward Hubbard repeated Köhler’s study, this time using the words ‘bouba’ and ‘kiki’ and the following two images:

Sound Symbolism Image of bouba kiki effect StudySmarterFig. 2 — The Bouba/Kiki effect associates sounds with shapes. Wikimedia Commons

They asked the participants, both English and Tamil (a South Asian language) speakers, to match the words ‘bouba’ and ‘kiki’ to an image. Over 95% of the participants matched the spikey image to the word ‘kiki’ and the more-rounded shape to the word ‘bouba’.2

This experiment suggests that, across languages, the human brain associates certain sounds with certain images.

Sound Symbolisms — Key Takeaways

  • Sound symbolism is a concept in linguistics that refers to the association between sounds and their meanings.
  • Sound symbolism is a type of linguistic iconicity and semiotics.
  • Sound-symbol correspondence refers to how each sound is represented by a symbol.
  • An example of sound symbolism is the word ‘bouncy’, which has a rhythm that resembles the up-and-down nature of a bounce.
  • A common type of sound symbolism is onomatopoeia, where words sound like the sounds they represent.
  • The bouba/kiki effect is a notable experiment in sound symbolism. The experiment found that most participants associated harder sounding words with a spikey shape and softer sounding words with a rounded shape.

References

  1. W. Kohler. Gestalt Psychology: an introduction to new concepts in modern psychology. 1970
  2. V. S. Ramachandran & E. M. Hubbard. Synaesthesia — A window into perception, thought and language. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2001
  3. Fig. 1. János Venczák on Unsplash
  4. Fig. 2. CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=618290

Frequently Asked Questions about Sound Symbolisms

Sound-symbol correspondence refers to how each speech sound has a representative symbol.

The general basis of sound symbolism is that some words or sounds sound as if they represent certain concepts. For example, some sounds sound small, some big, some bouncy, some spikey, some soft, or some hard.

Sound symbolism explains why we can intuitively guess the associated meanings of some words based on how they sound, even if we’ve never heard them before.

Arbitrariness in linguistics is the lack of any connection between a speech sound (or word) and its meaning. Sound symbolism, however, suggests that there are instances where sounds and their meanings have a natural or intuitive connection.

An example of sound symbolism is onomatopoeia, where the words sound like the noises they mean, e.g. ‘thwack,’ ‘bang,’ and ‘meow.’ 

Another example of sound symbolism is the Bouba-Kiki effect, where certain sounds can be associated with particular shapes. For example, ‘bouba‘ sounds like a rounded shape while ‘kiki‘ sounds like a spikey shape.

Final Sound Symbolisms Quiz

Sound Symbolisms Quiz — Teste dein Wissen

Question

Is this excerpt from Katy Perry’s song ‘Roar’ an example of onomatopoeia?

‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar.’

Show answer

Question

What type of onomatopoeia is ‘vroom’?

Show answer

Question

What form of writing is this example of onomatopoeia from?

‘To the rolling of the bells —

Of the bells, bells, bells – ’

Show answer

Answer

Poetry.

This example of onomatopoeia is from the poem ‘The Bells’ (1849) by Edgar Allan Poe.

Show question

Question

Does this phrase from Emily Dickinson’s ‘I heard a Fly buzz — when I died-‘ contain onomatopoeia?

‘While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping’. 

Show answer

Question

How can you identify the onomatopoeic word in the following sentence?

‘Hurry up or they’ll hear us and catch us!’, I whispered.

Show answer

Answer

The onomatopoeic word is ‘whispered.’ You can identify it by spotting that it is the only word in the sentence that describes a sound (to whisper is to speak softly using one’s breath).

‘Hurry up or they’ll hear us and catch us!’, I whispered.

Show question

Question

Is this an example of onomatopoeia?

‘Jingle bells, jingle bells,

Jingle all the way.’

Show answer

Question

Which of the words in the following excerpt from Kesha’s song ‘Tik-Tok’ are examples of onomatopoeia?

‘Don’t stop, make it pop

DJ, blow my speakers up

Tonight, I’ma fight.’

‘Til we see the sunlight

Tick-tock on the clock.’

Show answer

Answer

The words ‘pop’ and ‘tick-tock’ are onomatopoeic words. ‘Pop’ represents a light explosive sound. ‘Tick-tock’ conveys the sound that a clock makes.

‘Don’t stop, make it pop

DJ, blow my speakers up

Tonight, I’ma fight

‘Til we see the sunlight

Tick-tock  on the clock’.

Show question

Question

What form of writing is this example of onomatopoeia from?

‘I was just beginning to yawn with nerves thinking he was trying to make a fool of me when I knew his tattarrattat at the door.’

Show answer

Answer

Prose.

This example of onomatopoeia is from the novel Ulysses (1920) by James Joyce.

Show question

Question

What type of onomatopoeia is ‘hachoo’?

Show answer

Question

Does this sentence contain onomatopoeia?

‘It was so cold Sarah couldn’t help but shiver.’

Show answer

Question

What type of onomatopoeia is ‘zap’?

Show answer

Answer

A sound made in fictional works

Show question

Question

Which of the words in the following excerpt from the song ‘Firework’ by Katy Perry is an example of onomatopoeia?

‘Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon.’

Show answer

Answer

The word ‘boom’ is an onomatopoeia that evokes a loud, resonant sound.

‘Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon.’

Show question

Question

Does this phrase contain onomatopoeia?

‘Ka-ching! I just got paid!’

Show answer

Question

Which of the words in this excerpt from Emily Dickenson’s poem: ‘I heard a Fly buzz — When I died-‘ is an example of onomatopoeia?

‘I heard a fly buzz — when I died-‘

the stillness in the room

was like the stillness in the air.’ 

Show answer

Answer

Sound symbolism is a linguistic concept referring to the connection between speech sounds and their meanings.

Show question

Question

Is sound symbolism a type of linguistic iconicity or semiotics?

Show answer

Answer

Trick question — its a type of both.

Show question

Question

What is semiotics and which American philosopher is associated with it?

Show answer

Answer

  • Semiotics is a field of study that looks at signs and their meanings.
  • The American philosopher associated with semiotics is Charles Sanders Peirce.

Show question

Question

According to Peirce, what are the three types of sign?

Show answer

Answer

  • Icons
  • Indexes
  • Symbols

Show question

Question

Which type of sign, according to Peirce, so letters and words come under?

Show answer

Question

What is linguistic iconicity?

Show answer

Answer

Linguistic iconicity looks at the relationship or connection between linguistic signs and their meanings.

Show question

Question

How does linguistic iconicity differ to semiotics?

Show answer

Answer

Linguistic iconicity suggests that symbols (letters and words) can have associative meanings while semiotics argues that they don’t.

Show question

Question

What did Ferdinand de Saussure say about signs in linguistics and what did he mean?

Show answer

Answer

De Saussure stated that the sign is arbitrary, meaning that there is no connection between linguistic signs, word forms or sounds and their meanings.

Show question

Question

What can sound symbolism also be known as?

Show answer

Answer

Sound meaningfulness or phonetic symbolism.

Show question

Question

What is sound-symbol correspondence?

Show answer

Answer

Sound-symbol correspondence refers to how each sound has a representative symbol.

Show question

Question

What are three types of sound symbolism?

Show answer

Answer

Name any three from the following:

  • Onomatopoeia
  • Ideophones
  • Phonaesthemes
  • Magnitude symbolism
  • Bouba-Kiki effect
  • Tactile sound symbolism
  • Deictic sound symbolism
  • Pronominal sound symbolism

Show question

Answer

Onomatopoeia is when a word sounds like the noise it represents, such as ‘thwack,’ ‘woof‘ and ‘ding dong.’

Show question

Question

What genre of fiction often uses onomatopoeia?

Show answer

Answer

An ideophone is a word that gives the impression of something sensory (touch, sight, sound, colour, shape, smell or movement). Ideophones sound like the sensory concept they represent such as ‘smooth.’

Show question

Answer

Phonaesthemes are sequences of sounds or phonemes that are associated with a particular meaning or set of meanings.

Show question

Question

What is an example of a phonaestheme?

Show answer

Answer

The consonant cluster ‘sl‘ is an example of a phonaestheme as it is often present in words that relate to liquids such as ‘slippy,’ ‘sloppy,’ ‘slimy‘ and ‘slidey.’

Show question

Question

What is magnitude symbolism?

Show answer

Answer

Magnitude symbolism refers to the size association placed on different vowels.

Show question

Question

According to magnitude symbolism, which vowels are associated with the concept of ‘bigness,’ and which are associated with the concept of ‘smallness?’

Show answer

Answer

  • Back open vowels such as /a/ or /u/ are associated with the concept of ‘bigness.’
  • Front close vowels such as /i/ or /e/ are associated with the concept of ‘smallness.’

Show question

Question

Which linguist carried out a study in 1929 that proved magnitude symbolism?

Show answer

Question

What is the Bouba-Kiki effect?

Show answer

Answer

The bouba-kiki effect is the phenomenon where particular sounds are associated with shapes. For example, ‘bouba‘ would be a rounded shape and ‘kiki‘ would be a spikey shape.

Show question

Question

How do we know that the bouba-kiki effect is present across different languages and cultures?

Show answer

Answer

We know the bouba-kiki effect is present across different languages and cultures because it works with psuedo-words.

Show question

Question

What is tactile sound symbolism?

Show answer

Answer

Tactile sound symbolism refers to the meanings associated with sounds depending on the tactile element of their production.

Show question

Question

What is an example of tactile sound symbolism?

Show answer

Answer

Bilabial consonants such as ‘p,’ ‘b,’ and ‘m‘ are associated with softness due to them being produced with the lips which are also soft.

Show question

Question

What is deictic sound symbolism?

Show answer

Answer

Deictic sound symbolism refers to the meaning associated with vowels in demonstrative pronouns (‘this‘ and ‘that‘). 

Across a range of languages, ‘this‘ usually has high front vowels such as /i/ while ‘that‘ usually has low back vowels such as /a/.

Show question

Question

What is an example of deictic sound symbolism in other languages?

Show answer

Answer

  • English = ‘this‘ and ‘that
  • Dutch = ‘deze‘ and ‘dat
  • German = ‘diese‘ and ‘das
  • Maori = ‘tenei‘ and ‘tera
  • Or any other language where the vowels for the translations of ‘this‘ and ‘that‘ follow the same pattern.

Show question

Question

What is pronominal sound symbolism?

Show answer

Answer

Pronominal sound symbolism suggests that first-person pronouns across different languages usually contain nasal sounds such as ‘m‘ and ‘n.’

Show question

Question

What did the linguist Joo deem as being the reason for nasal sounds often being present in first-person pronouns?

Show answer

Answer

Joo suggested this was due to infants producing nasal sounds early on in their speech development and using these sounds to attract the attention of their care-givers or to get something — using ‘me‘ and ‘you‘ often.

Show question

Answer

Onomatopoeia is when a word corresponds to the sound it represents.

Show question

Question

What is onomatopoeia a type of?

Show answer

Question

How is onomatopoeia used as a poetry technique?

Show answer

Answer

It is used to create auditory imagery in literature.

Show question

Question

Which of these words is not onomatopoeic?

Show answer

Question

Which of these onomatopoeic words represents feeling cold?

Show answer

Question

If a word sounds like the noise it represents, how would it be described?

Show answer

Discover the right content for your subjects

No need to cheat if you have everything you need to succeed! Packed into one app!

Study Plan

Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan.

Quizzes

Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes.

Flashcards

Create and find flashcards in record time.

Notes

Create beautiful notes faster than ever before.

Study Sets

Have all your study materials in one place.

Documents

Upload unlimited documents and save them online.

Study Analytics

Identify your study strength and weaknesses.

Weekly Goals

Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them.

Smart Reminders

Stop procrastinating with our study reminders.

Rewards

Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying.

Magic Marker

Create flashcards in notes completely automatically.

Smart Formatting

Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates.

Sign up to highlight and take notes. It’s 100% free.

Subjects>Hobbies>Toys & Games

User Avatar

Wiki User

∙ 12y ago


Best Answer

Copy

If you mean a word that sounds like a sound something makes,
such as hoo-hoo as a sound an owl makes or sh-h-h for shush the
answer is onomatopoeia

User Avatar

Wiki User

∙ 12y ago

This answer is:

User Avatar

Study guides

Add your answer:

Earn +

20

pts

Q: When a word sounds like what it describes?

Write your answer…

Submit

Still have questions?

magnify glass

imp

Related questions

People also asked

Like this post? Please share to your friends:
  • When word gets around
  • When word fail music speaks
  • When word are not enough
  • When will we use the word had
  • When we word search answers