Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia This term denotes sound imitation, i.e. the use of words which denote some phenomenon by imitating its real sounding.

It may be imitation of the sounds produced by animals: buzz (sounds of bees); hiss (snakes); bow-wow (dogs); mew/miaow and purr (cats); hoink (pigs); baa-baa (sheep); cackle (chickens); quack (ducks); cuckoo; caw (crows); moo (cows). It may also be imitation of other natural noises: bubble; rustle; splash ;/7о/? ; whistle ; giggle, chuckle; roar; tinkle ; ding-dong, jingle, click, tick, tick-tuck; bang, slap, rap, tap, etc.

Words built on the basis of onomatopoeia make speech especially expressive when used in their figurative meanings: Cars were whizzing past (=moving very fast); The pot was bubbling on the fire (= boiling and making this sound); The crowd buzzed with excitement (=» made a noise like that); I'll just give him a buzz (= phone call). Onomatopoeia may also be used in poetry: We 're foot — slog — slog — slog — slogging over Africa — Foot —foot —foot —foot — slogging over Africa. (Boots — boots — boots — boots — moving up and down again!) (Kipling)