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Friday, January 17, 2014

Onomatopoeia

Today's Word I Hate To Say is Onomatopoeia!

Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Onomatopoeia
on·o·mato·poe·ia noun \ˌä-nə-ˌmä-tə-ˈpē-ə, -ˌma-\
: the creation of words that imitate natural sounds

Full Definition of ONOMATOPOEIA
1:  the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (as buzz, hiss)
2:  the use of words whose sound suggests the sense
— on·o·mato·poe·ic  or on·o·mato·po·et·ic  adjective
— on·o·mato·poe·i·cal·ly  or on·o·mato·po·et·i·cal·ly adverb

Examples of ONOMATOPOEIA
Buzz and hiss are examples of onomatopoeia.
The term hiccup is an example of onomatopoeia … —Fred Cicetti, Montague Reporter, 6 Mar. 2008

Origin of ONOMATOPOEIA
Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from onomat-, onoma name + poiein to make — more at poet

First Known Use: circa 1577


So today's Word I Hate To Say is that obnoxious word from late elementary school to early junior high... Onomatopoeia.  I remember thinking it was so fun to say and then all my classmates and I would walk around saying it.  In fact, I think this is where hip-hop and early rap began - a bunch of junior high students trying to find words that rhyme with Onomatopoeia!

As for why I can't stand the word is that is just has too many syllables - 6 if I counted correctly. It is a mouth-full of vowels and contestants jumbled together... it is like someone sneezed and that is what came out.  The word seems as cheesy as the old Batman and Robin shows of old during a fight scene...  "Pow" "Zap" "Kabaam!"

At the end of the day...  Onomatopoeia is just what it sounds like I guess!

Reference
Onomatopoeia. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia. (image) (December 03, 2010). Teacher AlbertRetrieved January 17, 2014, from http://tx.english-ch.com/teacher/albert/level-a/onomatopoeia/

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