Cursory Discussion on the English Onomatopoeia英语拟声词.doc

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1、关闭好友动态pansy 草441335821保存往来邮件正在加载.窗体顶端标记：已将此邮件标记为星标邮件。取消星标Cursory Discussion on the English OnomatopoeiaAbstract: English onomatopoeia is not only the most primitive and basic form of language, but also the most vivid and imaginative rhetorical means. Onomatopoeic words are widely used both in oral a

2、nd written English, so its necessary to explore and study its rhetorical function. There is plenty of onomatopoeia in our worlds languages, so is the case with English. Onomatopoeia is not only a word-building, but also an important rhetorical method. It is composted through imitating the voice of n

3、atural world, with good rhetorical function, which makes our language more intuitive, vivid and lifelike. Besides, onomatopoeia can simulate the sound of human beings, and simulate a large number of the outside worlds sounds, which enhances the appeal of language to large extent. This paper will foc

4、us on the rhetorical function of the onomatopoeia and mainly discus its function in English language, and point that English onomatopoeia can be created according to our actual needs. Key words: Onomatopoeia; primary onomatopoeia; secondary onomatopoeia; rhetorical function0. IntroductionMany lingui

5、stics regard onomatopoeia as the origin of human language, they consist that language is a sort of complete imitating to the voice in natural world. English onomatopoeia comes from the Greek onomatopoeia, the name itself means that the coinage (making new words). Onomatopoeia is not only a very prim

6、itive method for human beings name after things, but also the oldest rhetorical means. Using onomatopoeia properly can achieve the effect of transferring feeling by voice, both emotionally and professionally, thus, to the audience or readers, onomatopoeia can be achieved with the use of decent sound

7、 teaser. The accuracy and profound reflect the authors attitudes and feelings which led to the emotional resonance between author and readers. This paper will focus on the English language from a rhetorical point of onomatopoeia in the description of scenarios, action, and the roles of other things

8、were discussed.I. Definition of English onomatopoeiaThe word “onomatopoeia” comes from Greek, it means namemaking Hugh. Holman said“Onomatopoeia-the use of words that by their sound suggest their meaning”, that is to say, English onomatopoeia refers to use pronunciation to express meanings. Onomatop

9、oeia is an important voice rhetorical which imitates some voices in the help of a similar sound to create a unique rhetorical effect.II. Classification of English onomatopoeia2.1 Primary onomatopoeia2.1.1 By imitating human voiceLets firstly look at the following examples: Ayo (ah Yao) is a pain lik

10、es sound that word； ha-ha/haw-haw refers to peoples laugh； murmur says the whisper； moan means something painfully； titter and giggle also refer to peoples laugh； shriek， a kind of sharp voice； whoop means asthma voice； whisper refers to a voice to speak quietly； babble means baby-talk voice； grunt

11、(snoring sound)； ouch ，by the pain of a sudden cry .2.1.2 Onomatopoeia from imitating animals voiceThe second category to simulate animal sounds of the onomatopoeia; for example： donkey/ass-bray; bee-hum; bird-twitter, chirp; bull-bellow; cat-miaow, meow; chicken-cheep; dog-bark, bay, yelp, howl; du

12、ck-quack; hen-crackle, gaggle; horse-neigh; pigeons-coo; turkey-gobble; crow-caw; lion-roar; wolf-howl; tiger-growl; pig-grunt, squeal; frog-croak; bee-hum, buzz; mosquito-buzz, drone; cricket-chirp, chirrup, chirr； snake-hiss; swallow-chip, twitter. 2.1.3 By imitating natural phenomenon and plants

13、Usually, some words are used to describe the natural phenomenon and plant, for example: rumble, rustle, roll, boom, clap, crack, snap.2.1.4 By imitating sounds of tools and machines Such as, thump, toot, fizz.2.2 Secondary onomatopoeiaSecondary onomatopoeia means a sound associated with a symbolic m

14、eaning, for example: “s” is the sibilant sounds of letters; it is often used to describe a bitter sound of wind and water or sounds form snakes; “m”is a nasal letter, it is often used to describe some low and heavy voice, such as human whispers, insects hum, sound of pigeons cooing and sea howling s

15、ound; one more example, “h” is a aspirate sound, it is often linked to asthma, such as the following onomatopoeic words which usually begin with the letter”h”: hurry heave, huge, hurl, hoist, hop. III. Semantic rhetorical function of onomatopoeia3.1 Onomatopoeia is not only a rhetorical device, but

16、also a metonym method. It plays an important role in our diary conversion and written English to give things names and semantic translation. Some English onomatopoeic words can be used as noun, refers to some objects which can produce sounds; and used as verb, adjective and adverb and so on, which p

17、lays different semantic meaning and different grammar function. We call this phenomenon as onomatopoeia semantic transformation, including transformation between nouns, adjectives and adverb. Here we just take nouns and verbs for example.3.1.1 Onomatopoeia transferred into nounNoun transformation re

18、fers to using sounds to stand for the things itself, for example: crack refers to some split; bubble means blister; splash refers to mud; and bump stands for mass. Besides, when onomatopoeia used as noun, we can have various kinds of metaphorical transformations. For example: crash originally refers

19、 to the sound of collision between instruments but now it used to describe “failure” or “flunk”; crack means split now refers to “weakness”; bang refers to “warmth” 3.1.2 Onomatopoeia transferred into verbIn English, there are many onomatopoeias are transferred from noun to verb, for example: groan;

20、 chatter; clap; clump; tinkle; boom. 3.2 Rendering atmosphere, describing sceneOnomatopoeia language can make a three-dimensional, dynamic feeling, for description it can receive an intuitive and vivid rhetorical effort. For example: (1) And bubbling and trembling and doubling, And rushing and flush

21、ing and brushing and gushing, And flapping rapping and clapping and slap ping. And thumping and pumping and bumping and jumping. And dashing and flashing and dashing.The poet spends a lot of onomatopoeic words to describe the flowing river, showing us readers a vivid picture so that readers feel imm

22、ersive. (2) The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around; It cracked, and growled and roared and howled, Like noises in a sound. Four onomatopoeia words: crack, growl, roar, howl to simulate the break sound of sea ice, render the environment and atmosphere very realistic, taking the r

23、eaders into a spectacular scene of hearing the sounds, and seeing the shape.3.3 Description of characters(3) The following sentences are taken from “The Cask of Amontillado” (阿芒提那多的酒窖):“Niter?” he asked at length. “Niter?” I replied.“How long have you had that cough?”“Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! U

24、gh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!”My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes.The author Allen Poe uses only fifteen words about describing cough to portray the characters dying image. (4) “What be ye looking at?” Asked a man who had not observed t he incident.“Ho ho ho!”L

25、aughed dark Car.“Hee hee hee!”Laughed the tippling bride, as she steadied herself on the arm of her husband.“Heu heu heu!”Laughed dark Cars mot her, stoking her moustache as she explained laconically: “Out of the frying pan into and t he fire!”This is Hardys novel Tess of Deboweier Home in the descr

26、iption of three womens laughs which are very different. The first one is middle-aged woman, her laughter was Ho ho ho; the second woman was drunk, and her laughter was hee hee hee; and the third is an old woman, leaks teeth, her laughter was Heu heu heu. Hardy, through these onomatopoeic words shows

27、 the very different image to us readers.3.4 Description of things“Using onomatopoeia can make non-living things living and living things more dynamic “(Feng Cuihua, 1995), for example: (5) He could hear the voice of the Swede screaming and blubbering. He pushed the wooden button and as the door flew

28、 open, the Swede, a maniac, stumbled inward, chattering, weeping, still screaming.Stephen Crane: The VeteranIn this passage, “screaming”, “blubbering” and “chattering” are all onomatopoeic words, they are all non-finite verb form, the action is intended, which gives the impression that the image of

29、concrete, vivid and rich of rhythm . In this way, the terrified fire in the barn was outlined most vividly and penetrating from the worker Swedes eyes.(6)On the way through the mountain to school, we can see the babbling water in the brook, hear the frogs croaking, cuckoos cuckooing, birds singing,

30、sparrows chirping in the forest.The sound of frogs, water stream, cuckoo, sparrow and the squeak constitute a vibrant picture, which gives readers a sense of fresh and filling of emotion from deep heart. So the very beautiful picture is obviously related with the usage of the onomatopoeic words.(7)

31、And the muttering grew to a grumbling;And the grumbling grew to a mighty rum-bling;And out of the house the rats came rum-bling. Browning: Pied PiperThis poem vividly painted on the activities of mice, from the timid and afraid of something with a whisper and murmur sound to the bold excitement.(8)

32、Round the corner of Crescent Bay, between the pile-up masses of broken rock, a flock of sheep came pattering.(9) Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farm house far down the road-a long, agonized wailing, as if from fear.(10) I dont like the rattle of bottles from a milk mans ran(11) Chariots wer

33、e rattling and horses were neighing 3.5 Sound effect of renderingOnomatopoeia is unique in its color and sound, which can render audio, enhance bright rhythm and contrast the beautiful sound thus gives us readers a sense of getting into its scenery so that arouse the readers sympathy. For example: (

34、12) “The girls were giggling all the way home.” is better than “The girls were laughing on the way home.”(13) The metal gate of Changsha University creaked open.(14) The old grandpa let the beer gurgle down his throat.(15) We beard the twitter of birds among the trees.(16) He was hissed off the stag

35、e yesterday.IV. The concise and vividness of onomatopoeia4.1 Description of the meaningUsing onomatopoeia can express meaning concisely and vividly. For example:(17) ”Ding! Crash! ” This sentence only uses two words expressing us an accident.(18) A hammering clatter of hoofs beating the hard road.(1

36、9) He flopped down the bag and ran to help us.(20) She thumps her chest as if she feels pain there. (21) Rent a toot or buy a tweet, boom, zing, twang, tinkle, hum or plink.(22) The crowd began to hiss and boo him for his sunspot swanlike conduct, but he sat unmoved.4.2 Description of actionIn liter

37、ary works proper using of onomatopoeia can make sentences become clear, vivid and imaginary, at the same, it can make the static images become dynamic scenes, vivid language often makes people relaxed and happy. Foe example: (23) One of the most picturesque and impressive parts of the bazaar is the

38、copper smith market. As you approach it, a tingling and banging and clashing begins to implying on your ears.The author skillfully uses “tingling”, ” banging”, ”clashing” to express all kinds of sounds in the market, which gives readers a bustling and noisy picture.(24) “And dashing and flashing and

39、 splashing and dashingAnd at once and all other with mighty up roar,And this way the water comes down at Lodore.”How Does the Water Come Down at LodoreRobert Southey (25) Im so hungry that my stomach is rumbling.(26) Team by team the wooden rammers thud into the earth.(27) She was hissed off the sta

40、ge.(28) The teacher cracked him on the hand with a ruleV. Onomatopoeia can be creativeSince we live in a world which is full of various sounds, so it is not enough for us only use the existing onomatopoeia collected in some common dictionaries to express our meaning, from the semantic features, usua

41、lly, there is not necessarily a direct link between sound and meaning, at the same time onomatopoeia itself is objectivity, but it is closely related to peoples subjective consciousness, feeling, mood and other factors in nature. Whats more, English onomatopoeia is colorful. Therefore, onomatopoeia

42、may be created according to our actual needs and occasions based on objective reality. For example: （29） How the pretty ladies talk-Tittle tattle, tittle tattle! Like their patters when they walk-Pittle pattle, pittle pattle. E.DarwinOn the cases of the first pair, the onomatopoeic words tittle and

43、tattle both can be find in the dictionary, while in the second pair of onomatopoeic words, pittle and pattle, we cant find them in our dictionary, instead, they are created according to authors actual needs, so, the words expressed authors meaning properly.VI. The unique pragmatic effects of onomato

44、poeia6.1 The aesthetic function of onomatopoeia6.1.1 Beautify sentencesOnomatopoeia can not only successfully express the meaning, but also can beautify the article itself, it often makes the article extremely rich, proper and vivid, at the same time, it can add lively and colors to the language, th

45、us providing readers an imaginative space, with a strong expression effect. For example:(30) A. The rain fell on the window.B. The rain fell pitter-patter on the window.(31) A. He opened a bottle of beer and drank it down.B. He opened a bottle of bee and drank it down groanly.Comparing the two sente

46、nces, we can easily find that the later one is more vivid and proper than the first sentence.6.1.2 Beautify articleOnomatopoeia can describe scenes vividly, livelily and full of music, with a auditory stimulation. There is such a sentence in the first lesson of Advanced English The Middle Eastern Ba

47、zaar：(32) Little donkeys with harmoniously tinkling bells thread their way among the throngs of people entering and leaving the bazaar.The onomatopoeic word tinkling leaves us a very clear picture: Some little donkeys walk through the bustling market, with small bells hanging on their necks, ringing

48、 in the crowd, which consists a harmony and pleasing picture, giving readers a original style of the Middle Eastern Bazaar.In the text The Age of Miracle Chips, there is such a sentence:(33) As the alarm cock burrs, the bedroom curtains swing silently apart, the Venetian blinds snap up and thermostat boosts the heat to a cozy70. The percolator in the kitchen s