Task 12.

Onomatopoeic words are those which seem to sound like their meaning. The most obvious examples are verbs relating to the noises which animals make, e.g. cows mooand horses neigh.

A If the vowel sound in an onomatopoeic word is short, it usually signifies a short, sharp sound. If it is long (indicated in the International Phonetic Alphabet by :) then the word usually signifies a longer, slower sound. Compare pip/pip/ which is a short sound with peep/pi:p/ which is a long sound.

B Certain combinations of letters have particular sound associations in English.

gr-at the beginning of a word can suggest something unpleasant or miserable, e.g. groan[make a deep sound forced out by pain or despair], grumble[complain in a bad-tempered way], grumpy[bad-tempered], grunt[make a low, rough sound like pigs do, or people expressing disagreement or boredom], growl[make a deep, threatening sound].

cl-at the beginning of a word can suggest something sharp and/or metallic, e.g. click[make a short sharp sound], clang[make a loud ringing noise], clank[make a dull metallic noise, not as loud as a clang], clash[make a loud, broken, confused noise as when metal objects strike together], clink[make the sound of small bits of metal or glass knocking together]. Horses go clip-clopon the road.

sp-can have an association with water or other liquids or powders, e.g. splash[cause a liquid to fly about in drops], spit[send liquid out from the mouth], splutter[make a series of spitting sounds], spray[send liquid through the air in tiny drops either by the wind or some instrument], sprinkle[scatter small drops], spurt[come out in a sudden burst].

wh- often suggests the movement of air, e.g. whistle[a high-pitched noise made by forcing air or steam through a small opening], whirr[sound like a bird's wings moving rapidly], whizz[make the sound of something rushing through air], wheeze[breathe noisily especially with a whistling sound in the chest], whip[long piece of rope or leather or to hit with one of these].

-ashat the end of a word can suggest something fast and violent, e.g. smash[break violently into small pieces], dash[move or be moved violently], crash[suddenly strike violently and noisily], bash[strike heavily so as to break or injure], mash[make soft or pulpy by beating or crushing], gash[a long deep cut or wound].

-ckle, -ggle,or -zzlecan suggest something light and repeated, e.g. trickle[to flow in a thin stream or drops], crackle[make a series of short cracking sounds], tinkle[make a succession of light ringing sounds], giggle[laugh lightly], wriggle [move with quick short twistings], sizzle[make a hissing sound like something cooking in fat], drizzle[small, fine rain].

Which of the consonant combinations listed in В exist in your language? Do they ever have similar associations?

1. Which of the words from В fit best in the sentences below?

1 She heard his key…………………….as it turned in the lock.

2 The blades of the propeller……......... noisily.

3 I love to hear sausages................. in the pan!

4 They…….glasses and drank to each other's health.

5 There was a terrible car……….on the motorway today.

6 Everyone…………... with disappointment at the news.

7 That baby loves.................. in her bath.

8 It's not raining hard yet. It's just………………….

 

2. Almost all the words in В can be both nouns and regular verbs. There are, however, some exceptions. What are these words? Choose from the alternatives offered below.

1 Which verb is irregular? whip, grunt, spurt, spit or wriggle?

2 Which word is only an adjective? gash, grumpy, wheeze, or whirr?

3 Which is both a verb and a noun but the noun has a different meaning? trickle, spray, growl, splutter, spit, splash or crash?

3. Can you guess the meanings of the underlined words from their sounds?

1 The child sploshed through the puddles.

2 If you have a sore throat, try gargling with some salt water.

3 I couldn't concentrate on the play because of the rustle of sweet papers behind me.

4 Speak up. Don't mumble.

5 Those stairs always creak.

6 He whacked the ball into the air.

4. What words on the page opposite do these pictures represent?

6. Pair the words below so that in each case there is a noun and a matching verb.

schoolchildren a bad-tempered person or dog the bell on a cat's collar a bored child a fire a church bell a bicycle chain someone with asthma a steam train

crackles tinkles clanks whistles giggle growls clangs wheezes wriggles

7. Find other examples of words beginning with gr-, cl-, sp- or wh- with the association described opposite.

 

gr-:

cl-:

sp-:

wh-