Creative Onomatopoeia

tankexmortis commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Great list. Favorited.

February 1, 2007

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Interestingly, so many of these are monosyllabic. That's indicative of either the nature of onomotopoeia, or my own mental limitation in coming up with multisyllabic ones.

February 4, 2007

seanahan commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Really, how does the abacus sound like what it means?

February 4, 2007

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

The sound of the word reminds me of the sound of beads clicking on wires (in the hands of a skilled operator). Entirely subjective, of course--to each her own.

February 4, 2007

trivet commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

how 'bout haggle?

February 7, 2007

yarb commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Wonderful - how about wax or waxy? Purely subjective of course. Or chasm, which is an echoey word isn't it?

October 21, 2007

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Yeah! I never would have thought of those. Nice adds! Thanks!

October 22, 2007

skipvia commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Do these feel like onomotopoeia because of the sounds the words make or because we so closely associate them with their meanings? For example, look at (by which I mean listen to) itch. It sounds like something brief, sharp, or tingly. A word like "room" or "mauve" just wouldn't seem appropriate to describe the sensation of an itch. But why? How did the word "itch" get associated with the experience?

Can you think of many words that sound like the opposite of what they mean? Bucolic always strikes me this way, but I think that's because I hear the word colic in there. (Colic, by the way, sounds exactly like what it describes.)

October 22, 2007

sionnach commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

It seems almost churlish to bring this up, but isn't the word onomatopoeia?

October 22, 2007

skipvia commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Right...in both cases. I shouldna hadna oughtna copypasted here. Ironically, I was afraid I would spell it incorrectly.

October 22, 2007

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

I disagree with "colic," actually. I don't even think "gas" sounds like what it denotes (in this case used as a synonym of "colic"). Flatus, however...

I don't really know, but you raise a fair question about itch. Who knows how words like these get their "feelings"? I can speak only for myself with this list--I'm sure if any other wordies compiled similar lists, we'd all be struck by the differences!

sionnach... it *is* churlish! Actually, you're probably right. I didn't check the spelling.

But I'm adding churlish. ;)

October 22, 2007

yarb commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Sphagnum sounds exactly like the sound it makes when you step in it.

October 25, 2007

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

OK, I added it--but in my limited experience with sphagnum, it's never wet, so I wouldn't know the extent of its squelchiness.

October 25, 2007

yarb commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

But I thought wetness was sort of of the essence of sphagnum? I didn't think it was possible to have any kind of sphagnum experience other than a damp one. In any case, I assure you that when wet, as sphagnum really ought to be, nothing can better it for squelchiness.

October 25, 2007

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Well, I'm not an outdoorsy type of bear, so the only sphagnum I really come across is sold in stores as an additive to, or covering for, the soil for potted plants--for example, sphagnum moss liners for hanging baskets. It's always dried out though.

*wonders if she should get out more*

October 25, 2007

yarb commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

I did not know you could buy dried sphagnum. I'll look out for it next time I go to a store.

I believe the wild, wet variety is more common in higher latitudes. Definitely worth seeking out and planting a boot.

October 25, 2007

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

I'll do that, yarb. Thanks for the tip.

Crikey, this list is HUGE!

October 25, 2007

jennarenn commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Was this list inspired by the pronk and stot conversation?

November 21, 2007

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

jennarenn--I don't think so--it was one of my earliest lists. But perhaps pronk and stot belong here. Hmm....

January 4, 2008

bilby commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Sphagnum should definitely be squelchy. Always check for squelchiness with your sphagnomenometer.

January 4, 2008

jennarenn commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

How fun! I haven't been on in ages, and what do I find but a comment directed at me right there on front page. I'd at least add pronk, but it's your list. :)

January 4, 2008

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

That happened to AbraxasZugzwang too, but he hasn't come back again. Don't let this happen to you, jennarenn! You are missed!

January 4, 2008

jennarenn commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

a_z is a guy?! I never guess correctly.

No worries, I'm not going anywhere. I'm just more unemployed available during the summers. :)

January 4, 2008

sarra commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

♥ tuft!

I'm loath to add anything to this list, as my relationship with language does this all over.

January 4, 2008

reesetee commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Tuft is definitely a good one. :-) How about puff?

Jennarenn, you and AZ are missed when you're not around!

January 4, 2008

reesetee commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Wait--cantilever? It always sounds to me like it's juuuust barely balanced.

January 5, 2008

yarb commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Hernia sounds exactly like the noise you make when you get one. Or so I imagine.

February 20, 2008

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Ha! Good one, yarb!

February 20, 2008

whichbe commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

What is it with this list? So many of the words have this little energetic charge, they sound so very somatic yet visceral to speak... interesting phenomena.

June 7, 2008

rolig commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

a lovely list, and a good ear!

June 7, 2008

dontcry commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Ipecac is a good one. I could almost hork just saying it.

June 7, 2008

Prolagus commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Glossy belongs here.

June 7, 2008

Prolagus commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

smegma?

June 8, 2008

yarb commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Sift fits.

June 22, 2008

wordlover42 commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

what about serene?

June 24, 2009

pterodactyl commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

I was reminded of this list today when I stumbled upon a description of "creative onomatopoeia" in a novel I'm reading. I've reproduced the relevant passage here:

Glint, glisten, glitter, gleam...

Tiffany thought a lot about words, in the long hours of churning butter. Onomatopoeic, she'd discovered in the dictionary, meant words that sounded like the noise of the thing they were describing, like cuckoo. But she thought there should be a word meaning a word that sounds like the noise a thing would make if that thing made a noise even though, actually, it doesn't, but would if it did.

Glint, for example. If light made a noise as it reflected off a distant window, it'd go glint! And the light of tinsel, all those little glints chiming together, woudl make a noise like glitterglitter. Gleam was a clean, smooth noise from a surface that intended to shine all day. And glisten was the soft, almost greasy sound of something rich and oily.

September 9, 2010

chained_bear commented on the list creative-onomatopoeia

Lovely! Thanks for sharing. That pretty much nails this list, doesn't it? :)

September 9, 2010