Every language has words that are derived from sounds. They are called onomatopeia. See some English examples here: <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/uncommon-and-surprising-onomatopoeia-words">https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/uncommon-and-surprising-onomatopoeia-words</a>.
I thought about this topic today because I learnt the word "squelch" today, in the meaning of ... well, it was in Games of Thrones and someone thrusted a sword through another person and this was described as "squelching" in the subtitles. According to this resource <a href="https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/squelch" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/squelch</a>, to "squelch can mean to make a squelch-like sucking sound — or to slop, slosh, splash, and squish through the mud." Well, as squelching also means "to put an end to something", the one person squelched the other's life (yeah, I know, you normally don't use the word in that way) by thrusting the sword with a squelching sound through their body...
The Japanese language is full of beautiful onomatopeia and has a peculiarity. Not only does Japanese have words to describe sounds (giongo) but also to describe actions or feelings in a sound-like manner (gitaigo). See some examples here: <a href="https://www.nihongomaster.com/blog/japanese-onomatopoeia-guide/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://www.nihongomaster.com/blog/japanese-onomatopoeia-guide/</a> and here: <a href="https://www.japanesepod101.com/japanese-onomatopoeia/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://www.japanesepod101.com/japanese-onomatopoeia/</a>.
What are your favourite onomatopeia in your native tongue or in your target language?
Hi Miriam,
I liked the topic. In Arabic we’ve got a lot of onomatopoeic words like,
صليل السيوف the sound of swords are like the word Saleel
حفيف الشجر the sound of tree leaves when air blows is like the word Hafeef
etc.
tick tack, plitsch platsch
ping pong, ding dong
It's not possible to say tack tick and pong ping. Does anyone know why "i" has to come first?