Iconicity Atlas



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Instructions:

  • Please read the instruction and the questions carefully;
  • Abbreviations int., n. and v. stand for interjection (e.g., ha-ha), noun (e.g., laughter) and verb (e.g., laugh) respectively;
  • If your language has ideophones[*]Ideophone is ‘a vivid representation of an idea in sound; a word, often onomatopoeic, which describes a predicate, qualificative or adverb in respect to manner, color, sound, smell, action, state or intensity’ (Doke 1935)., please enter them under interjection, adding (id.) in parentheses;
  • Your answers should NOT be a direct translation of the name of the concept given in the first column – the name of the concept is just an umbrella term for a group of words related by meaning (e.g., under LAUGH English giggle, guffaw, snigger etc. are grouped);
  • There may be more than one answer possible (e.g., for the concept LAUGH you may enter (int.) ha-ha, ho-ho, (n.) laughter, giggle, snigger etc. separated by commas);
  • It is possible that your language may not contain words denoting all the listed concepts, or the concepts might not be expressed by certain parts of speech (most probably, there would be no interjection); in this case, please, indicate the absence of a word by a dash ‘—’;
  • One word can define several concepts (e.g., English cry is used to denote two concepts – WHEEP and SHOUT);
  • You are most welcome to give your own comments on the usage or origin of the words in the section ‘Comments’.
  • If your language uses an alphabet other than Latin or other writing systems (e.g. hieroglyphs), please provide a transcription. If you have never transcribed the words in your language and/or not sure how to do the transcription, provide only the written form of the word.



N Name of iconic concept Question(s) Answer(s) Comments
41. JABBER
talk, babble
How do you imitate an incoherent sound of people talking, esp. rapidly and incoherently (a babble or jabber)? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
42. JERK
move
How do you name an abrupt movement, jerk often accompanied by a sound? How do you name such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
43. KICK
foot
How do you name a sound accompanying striking o  with the foot, a kick? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
44. KISS How do you name a sound accompanying touching with lips and the name of the act itself (kissing)? How do you name the action of kissing?
int.
n.
v.
45. KNOCK
door
 
How do you imitate a sound made by striking a hard surface with knuckles, especially a knock on a door? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
46. LAUGH
giggle, guffaw
How do you imitate different kinds of laughter? How do you name different kinds of laughter? How do you name the action of laughing?
int.
n.
v.
47. LICK
lap
How do you name an act of drawing one’s tongue over the surface of smth. to moisten, taste, or eat (e.g. ice cream) and the sounds that may accompany it?
int.
n.
v.
48. MIAOW
cat
How do you imitate sounds made by a cat ( miaow, meow, or  purr)? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
49. MOAN Write the prolonged, inarticulate sound uttered from (or as if from) physical or mental suffering / exasperation, a moan or groan. How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
50. MOO
cow
How do you imitate a characteristic deep long sound made by a cow or a bull? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.