Definition:
- The naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of a thing associated with it (as buzz, hiss)
- The use words whose sound suggests the sense. Onomatopoeia is the visual representation of an audible sound associated with an object or an action.[2]
It is a technique frequently used in poetry and other literary arenas
to attain the dramatic effect of sound without specifically naming its
source or cause.
Origins
Onomatopoeia originates from the Greek words which mean "name" and "I make".[3] Common examples of onomatopoeia are animal sounds: "oink", "quack", "moo", etc. These sounds are not standard across languages. Rather, they conform to the linguistic system of the speaker. For example, in America we often say "knock-knock" to imitate the sound of someone knocking on a door, but Russian speakers typically say "tuc-tuc" to describe the same sound. Similarly, in Turkey a turkey's call is described as "glu glu".[4] More examples of the sounds that animals make across a variety of different languages can be found at Derek Abbott's Animal Noise .Cultural Impact
As previously noted, onomatopoeic words do not always transfer unchanged (or even in a similar form) from one language to another, however certain aspects of onomatopoetic words retain their impact across cultures. Possibly the most notable similarity seen across language communities is the fact that onomatopoeic terms often carry an intimate emotional attachment to sound,[5] because of this connection, onomatopoetic words are capable of being exploited for their emotional resonance. This makes the choice between terms such as "boom" and "bang" far more nuanced than a simple one-to-one transliteration of sound to word. For example, while "boom" lets the audience know a loud noise has just occurred, "bang" can add the feeling of surprise. Advertising firms, political campaigns, artists, and authors (whether consciously aware or not) often use this aspect of onomatopoeia to influence their audience's emotional sensibilities.
Taboo is another common place in which onomatopoeia is employed. Whether the intention is to escalate or diminish conflict, onomatopoeia finds itself as a metonymic stand-in for another sensitive subject. Genitalia and excrement are often subjected to this treatment, using sounds to describe the act being committed, rather than stating outright the act itself. In this way, the opposite from emotional exploitation is done, rather an emotional filter is being constructed to abate the uncomfortable feelings cultural taboos produce.
Widely used in comic books & graphic novels (e.g. bang, crash, pow). Also used in advertising, such as for Rice Krispies cereal Snap, Crackle, and Pop, which became the names of the elves who are the mascots for the cereal. Obviously this is a technique that is utilized in all literary forms. Of considerable note is the fact that in academic or formal writing, onomatopoeic words are often disparaged as being improper or slang. Futurists and Dadaists explored this conflicted aspect of onomatopoeia, using its alienated status within language to explore feelings of alienation in a modern world applying it to their art, poetry, and manifestos.Visual and Literary Use
Cover of "Zang Tumb Tuuum" (1914)
F.T. Marinetti
F.T. Marinetti's Zang Tumb Tuum (1914) uses onomatopoeia throughout, and even the title "Zang Tumb Tuuum" (seen to the right here) is onomatopoetic of a bomb. In this excerpt (see below) from Zang Tumb Tuum Marinetti uses the word "express" and "press" in such a way as to make it onomatopoetic of the sound the train's breaks make. He manages to expand the use of onomatopoeia even to words that are not inherently associated with the thing.
train train fever of my
train express-express-expressssssss press-press
press-press-press-press-press-press-press-press-
press-press-pressssssss stung by the sea salt
KOO-KOO
There exists a word in English for this, and it's the 'cuckoo clock.' With its high pitched "KOO" sliding down to its much lower pitch 'KOO' this sound covers a lot of auditory range. This offers food for thought as to whether this is why we refer to people who are scatter-brained as 'cuckoo.'
Regardless of any intellectual queries posited by onomatopoeic terms, simple exposure to the words through daily life is enough to build up the necessary register of words to understand what's going on. When paired with images as they are in this video, explanation is typically built in.
Nancy Sinatra's "Bang Bang" provides an example of onomatopoeia being utilized for dramatic effect. The plosive 'b' that starts the word "bang" is essentially a large burst of air being released at the moment the lips open, and this explosive burst imitates the popping sound of a gun being shot. The lyrics of the song are as follows:
I was five and he was six,
We rode on horses made of sticks,
He wore black and I wore white,
He would always win the fight
Bang bang, he shot me down,
Bang Bang, I hit the ground,
Bang bang, that awful sound,
Bang bang, my baby shot me down
Seasons came and changed the time,
When I grew up I called him mine,
He would always laugh and say,
Remember when we used to play
Bang bang, I shot you down,
Bang bang, you hit the ground,
Bang bang, that awful sound,
Bang bang, I used to shoot you down
Music played and people sang,
Just for me the church bells rang,
Now he’s gone I don’t know why,
And to this day sometimes I cry,
He didn’t even say goodbye,
He didn’t take the time to lie
Bang bang, he shot me down,
Bang bang, I hit the ground,
Bang bang, that awful sound,
Bang bang, my baby shot me down
Baby shot me down - http://peaceandwarpoetics.wikispaces.com/Onomatopoeia
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