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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: bandit957 on January 15, 2020, 09:00:19 PM

Title: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: bandit957 on January 15, 2020, 09:00:19 PM
Certain words sound like the very things that they mean. I don't mean words like 'bang' and 'boom' that are designed to mimic sounds. I mean words that naturally form over time and just happen to sound like the things they represent.

A good example is 'complain'. The word 'complain' actually sounds like it's complaining. Another word like this is 'republic'. It rolls off the tongue in a way that represents that very type of government. It has a firm, resolute stress on the second syllable.
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: texaskdog on January 15, 2020, 09:51:48 PM
Like when a lion roars or a cat meows?
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: Alps on January 15, 2020, 10:02:46 PM
ceremonious
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: Big John on January 15, 2020, 11:05:45 PM
You mean onomatopoeia?
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: US 89 on January 15, 2020, 11:23:17 PM
Quote from: texaskdog on January 15, 2020, 09:51:48 PM
Like when a lion roars or a cat meows?
Quote from: Big John on January 15, 2020, 11:05:45 PM
You mean onomatopoeia?

Quote from: bandit957 on January 15, 2020, 09:00:19 PM
I don't mean words like 'bang' and 'boom' that are designed to mimic sounds.
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: Beltway on January 15, 2020, 11:25:49 PM
Burp, belch, puke, spew, regurgitate, upchuck
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: kurumi on January 16, 2020, 12:01:58 PM
Some adjectives sort of sound like themselves: pompous, meticulous, bombastic, serene, etc. But maybe that's just associations they've built up over a lifetime of use.

Japanese has lots of "gitaigo" adjectives that don't mimic sounds but still act like onomatopoeia: fuwafuwa for fluffy, etc.
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: mgk920 on January 16, 2020, 12:33:37 PM
Howabout all of those totally perfect Yiddish words....

Mike
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: Mr. Matté on January 16, 2020, 12:55:55 PM
Are these threads getting dumber or just louder?
(https://frinkiac.com/video/S07E23/7LMrmT0K9Z3OG7VX0uUCn-Ul-WY=.gif)
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: MNHighwayMan on January 16, 2020, 01:09:59 PM
Quote from: kurumi on January 16, 2020, 12:01:58 PM
But maybe that's just associations they've built up over a lifetime of use.

This is exactly it. I am certain that if "fuwafuwa" meant "pompous" then we'd be talking about that instead.
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: hbelkins on January 16, 2020, 02:01:21 PM
Phlegm.
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: webny99 on January 16, 2020, 06:05:30 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 16, 2020, 02:01:21 PM
Phlegm.

That also looks (on paper) exactly like what it means, which might be another thread altogether.
Title: Re: Words that sound like what they mean
Post by: bandit957 on January 16, 2020, 06:38:56 PM
Quote from: webny99 on January 16, 2020, 06:05:30 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 16, 2020, 02:01:21 PM
Phlegm.

That also looks (on paper) exactly like what it means, which might be another thread altogether.

I like the way the lowercase 'e' looks in words that are funny, because the 'e' looks like it's laughing.