Playing With Words

“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. ”
Buddha

I love words. I like the sound of them, I like to see them written down and I like to see them used by others in different ways and I just like playing with them.

Today, from somewhere in the back of this elderly brain, came the word Onomatopoeia. I am sure you know what it means but my dictionary defines it as – “The formation of words whose sound is imitative of the sound of the noise or action designated, such as hiss.”

So after playing around for a time I came up with this –

Onomatopoeia

Actors mumble

Birds flutter

Cats purr

Dogs bark

Eagles swoosh

Friends chatter

Guns boom

Harnesses jangle

Insensitives belch

Jellies squish

Kites swoosh

Lovers whisper

Mothers murmur

Noses sniff

Orchestras zing

Pigs snort

Queens giggle

Rain drips

Snakes hiss

Trains rumble

Unicorns whoosh

Victors roar

Water laps

Xylophones twang

Yaks shuffle

Zealots blare.

So what can you add? I am sure you can come up with many others. But it was an interesting way to spend an hour today.

Until tomorrow then.

29 responses to “Playing With Words”

Thomas Stazyk | September 9, 2011 at 17:46 | Reply

Good one, Judith. I don’t know if you’ve ever read any Edgar Allan Poe–his poetry is a goldmine of onomatopoeia and the best example is this poem, The Bells. It’s amazing the way he chooses words that capture the sounds of the different bells and also impact the pacing so that you get the feel of how the different bells ring–read it out loud:

http://www.online-literature.com/poe/575/

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 07:07 | Reply
  
  Thanks Thomas. I do read Poe occasionally but have never come across that poem. Very clever use of words. And I did read it out loud to my Tibetan Spaniel who is a good judge of poetry – well she looked to be smiling as I read it.
  
  LikeLike
backonmyown | September 10, 2011 at 00:52 | Reply

Wonderful! I love words, too.

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 07:08 | Reply
  
  Thanks – I really love playing with words. No doubt will do more posts on this. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
SuziCate | September 10, 2011 at 01:04 | Reply

Fabulous, I love words, the way they sound, what they mean, how they look on paper, in script, and on the screen.

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 07:09 | Reply
  
  Thanks. I have one grandson who has inherited my love of words so who knows?
  
  LikeLike
ryoko861 | September 10, 2011 at 01:44 | Reply

For someone who hated English classes growing up, I enjoy a good round of the game of Scrabble. I do cheat alittle by going on a site that finds words with the letters I have, but I enjoy looking up some of the words and finding their meanings. I always feel smarter, but ask me in about a week what the meaning of a word is that I looked up and I couldn’t tell ya. I have NO memory skills what so ever.

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 07:10 | Reply
  
  Thanks for the comment. It was a great way to while away some time. But cheating at Scrabble. Oh dear, that would be frowned upon here. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
Bridgesburning Chris King | September 10, 2011 at 06:23 | Reply

That’s a darn near perfect list Judith!

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 07:10 | Reply
  
  Thanks Chris and it was fun to do. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
Carl D'Agostino | September 10, 2011 at 08:48 | Reply

wallets empty

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 10:48 | Reply
  
  Oh Carl – I just knew you would go one better. Thanks. Love it!
  
  LikeLike
Katrina Jackson | September 10, 2011 at 09:21 | Reply

Loved this post. I think my favorite one was “Insensitives Belch.” Made me laugh. Have a wonderful day!

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 14:48 | Reply
  
  Well I was hard pressed to find a word for I and then when insensitives came to mind I immediately thought of belch,. Thanks for the comment.
  
  LikeLike
jacquelincangro | September 10, 2011 at 10:34 | Reply

My hat’s off to you. An impressive sound poem. Thanks for brightening my day!

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 10:47 | Reply
  
  Thanks Jacquelin – it was a fun thing to do on a quiet afternoon.:)
  
  LikeLike
nrhatch | September 10, 2011 at 12:22 | Reply

“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. “
Buddha

Thanks for your kind words today, Judith

LikeLike
nrhatch | September 10, 2011 at 12:24 | Reply

Since you enjoy words, you might enjoy this post and video:
http://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/loosening-the-chokehold-on-language/

LikeLike
ordinarygood | September 10, 2011 at 13:26 | Reply

I posted about “what is your favourite word” on International Literacy Day and the responses were all unique.

Great list of words suggesting sense Judith.

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 14:46 | Reply
  
  Thanks Lynley – I will re-read that post.
  
  LikeLike
pattisj | September 10, 2011 at 16:54 | Reply

I like playing around with words too, especially when they turn out well, like your alphabetic list! (not that I’ve ever done anything quite that well).

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 19:52 | Reply
  
  Come now Patti I am sure that isn’t true. My love of words and the English language was passed on to my sisters and me by our Father. Thanks for the comment. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
therealsharon | September 10, 2011 at 17:06 | Reply

What a clever idea and poem! 🙂

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 19:53 | Reply
  
  Thanks Sharon – try it for yourself sometime. It’s fun. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
ElizOF | September 10, 2011 at 17:17 | Reply

Onomatopoeia … Oh la la! 🙂

LikeLike
- Judith | September 10, 2011 at 19:54 | Reply
  
  I love the sound of the word onomatopoeia and the way it looks on pager (or the computer screen). Thanks for the comment. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
manish | February 16, 2014 at 02:58 | Reply

I like playing with words. By the way, A friend told me about favoritewords dot com, it’s different but I like it, actually, so I decided to post about it here because it’s relevant to mention.

LikeLike
- judithhb | February 25, 2014 at 09:57 | Reply
  
  Thank you for the comment. I am so behind in reading and responding to comments as we are in the process of moving house. However, I will go over to favouritewords.com and have a look. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
Pingback: Spring or the Ides of September | I choose how I will spend the rest of my life