Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia
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According to Crowely and Hawhee, the rhetorical trope, onomatopoeia (ɒnəˌmætəˈpiə), is used for two main purposes: imitation and expressiveness. Closely related to neologism, this rhetorical trope is used to assign a new word to something that does not have one or has one that is not accurate. Researchers believe that it was through onomatopoeia that the English language was formed and grew into what it is today. [1]
The word onomatopoeia originated from late Latin originally from the Greek words onoma, meaning "name", and poiein, meaning "to make." [2]
Definition
1: a. The formation of a word from a sound associated with the thing or action being named; the formation of words imitative of sounds. Occas.: the fact or quality of being onomatopoeic.
b. A word formed by onomatopoeia.
2: The use of echoic or suggestive language, especially onomatopes, for rhetorical effect. Occas. in Music: the use of imitative or echoic instrumentation, rhythms, etc. [3]
Uses of Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is often used to describe animal sounds, such as moo (cow), bark or woof (dog), or quack (duck). It can also be used to describe sound effects, such as crash, boom, hiccup, and splash. The word zap is often used to describe the audible arcing of electricity. [4] Children frequently use onomatopoeia to describe unfamiliar visual stimuli in their environment. As we age, our use of onomatopoeia, overtly, decreases, however individuals often mimic sounds in everyday life in an attempt to explain or retell an event. For example, using clunk and gurgle noises to imitate the sound of a vehicle in need of repair. Also, in academic research onomatopoeia has been used to study language acquisition and compare speakers of other languages. A 2008 study found that speakers of both Japanese and English recognize the same sound symbolism for actions, and gave evidence that onomatopoeia facilitates verb learning. [5]
Examples in Literature
There are many examples of onomatopoeia in literature. Below are some excerpts that demonstrate onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is red in the examples.[6]
And who tolling, tolling, tolling,
In that muffled monotone,
Feel a glory in so rolling
On the human heart a stone...
'The Bells' by Edgar Allan Poe
Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!
One for the master, one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.
Nursery Rhyme
The moan of doves in immemorial elms,
And murmuring of innumerable bees...
'Come Down, O Maid' by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred...
'The Highwayman' by Alfred Noyes
Practice
This link will connect to a website that allows users to practice their understanding of onomatopoeia. It asks for identification of onomatopoeia in example sentences.
Poster
References
- ↑ Crowley and Hawhee, Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students, 2003
- ↑ Dictionary.Reference.com
- ↑ OED Oxford English Dictionary
- ↑ Wikipedia Uses of Onomatopoeia
- ↑ Sound Symbolism Facilitates Early Verb Learning
- ↑ Buzzle.com Onomatopoeia Examples in Literature
Contributors: Primary Editors: Chelsea Schmitt, Kristin Jatkowski; Secondary Editor: Amelia Parnis; Poster: Ryan D.
