Understanding Onomatopoeia: A Language Technique, Lecture notes of Linguistics

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Onomatopoeia

(a language technique)

Introduction

The purpose of this PowerPoint is to introduce the use of onomatopoeia as a language technique. By the end of this PowerPoint you will have the knowledge and understanding of how to identify the technique within a range of texts. When completing any form of writing activity for functional skills, try to apply the technique you’ve learned.

What do you already know? Onomatopoeia Write down what you already know and understanding by the term ‘onomatopoeia’.

Definition

A word that imitates a natural sound it represents. For example, a dog barks , a cat purrs

Further examples of

onomatopoeia

Identify the key word in each example.

• 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.

Examine the two examples

below

“The stream flows in the forest.” “The gushing stream flows in the forest.” The reader is drawn to hear the sound of a “gushing stream” which makes the expression more effective.

Alfred Lord Tennyson’s,

Come down, O Maid

Identify the word from each line symbolising onomatopoeia. ‘The moan of doves in immemorial elms, And murmuring of innumerable bees.’

Can you identify two examples of onomatopoeia from the passage below? Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. "'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door — Only this, and nothing more."

Further exam practice

Question 5

Refer to the City & Guilds practice test paper, Noisy Office , Level 2 Can you identify two language techniques used in the quote below? “Whispering can create a climate of solitude, secrecy and suspicion, even fuelling paranoia, but a noisier office means that you can chat without having to whisper.”

Exam practice answers

Q2 Onomatopoeia Title: Ring, Bang, Clatter Rule of Three Ring, Bang, Clatter Hyperbole Churn out documents all day

Common examples (answers)

• 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.

Examples shared from Pinterest