Onomatopoeia Definition
Onomatopoeia is defined as
a word, which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound effect
that mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and
interesting.
Common Examples of Onomatopoeia
- The buzzing bee flew away.
- The sack fell into the river with a splash.
- The books fell on the table with a loud thump.
- He looked at the roaring sky.
- The rustling leaves kept me awake.
The
different sounds of animals are also considered as examples of onomatopoeia.
You will recognize the following sounds easily:
- Meow
- Moo
- Neigh
- Tweet
- Oink
- Baa
Groups of Onomatopoeic Words
Onomatopoeic
words come in combinations as they reflect different sounds of a single object.
For example, a group of words reflecting different sounds of water are; plop,
splash, gush, sprinkle, drizzle, drip etc.
Similarly,
words like growl, giggle, grunt, murmur, blurt, chatter etc. denote different
kinds of human voice
sounds.
Moreover, we
can identify a group of words related to different sounds of wind, such as;
swish, swoosh, whiff, whoosh, whizz, whisper etc.
Onomatopoeia Examples in Literature
Onomatopoeia is frequently employed in literature. Below, a few Onomatopoeia examples are highlighted in bold letters:“The moan of doves in immemorial elms,
And murmuring of innumerable bees…”
(‘Come Down, O Maid’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson)
Function of Onomatopoeia
Generally, words are used to tell what is happening. Onomatopoeia, on the other hand, helps the readers to hear the sounds the words they reflect. Hence, the reader cannot help but enter the world created by the poet with the aid of these words. The beauty of onomatopoeic words lies in the fact that they are bound to have an effect on the readers’ senses whether they are understood or not. Moreover, a simple plain expression does not have the same emphatic effect that conveys an idea powerfully to the readers. The use of onomatopoeic words helps create emphasis.
