Onomatopoeia
I wonder about the word “onomatopoeia.” I wonder if a better word could have been used. It can’t be used to describe itself because there is no sound to mimic.
Yiddish is definitely an onomatopoeiac language not so much because the words mimics any particular sound, but the words sound exactly like the activity or state of mind which it describes. When you hear the word “schlep” you immediately know what it means.
See if you can tell the meaning of the words below by their sound:
Chutzpah, Dreck, Glitch, Kibits, Klutz, Meshuga, Nebbish, Putz, Schlemiel, Schmo, Schnoz, Shtick, Yutz…
These words and most Yiddish words are perfectly descriptive of the situation without translation.
OK, admit it. Most of you had no idea what an onomatopoeia was when you first started reading this. Had the word been Yiddish you would have understood it perfectly.
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 5:14 AM
11 Comments:
I still have no idea what it means, although I seem to remember some elementary school teacher using the word and perhaps even telling what it means. Now I'm off to see what it means for sure.
Now that was funny. You're such a mensch.
I DID know what it meant. And, Guy a Mencsh? Yeah, I guess.
Boo, hiss - I did know what an onomatopoeia is!
And another great Yiddish word - schmuck. (Not you...)
Donna, it is when the word mimics the sound of what it describes. Like "Click" is the word and the sound.
Lori, Oy!
Auntie,Afh yenems tukhes is gut sepatchen!
Beth, I would expect you to know it. I bet you are good with puzzles.
I knew - I even knew it before Tod Rundgren.
Weese, and it doesn't even have anything to do with recycling. I'm proud of you, Darlin.
Fabulous Yiddish word: Tchotske. Know what it means?
A collection of junk or trivial items is what I've always thought it to mean.
ha... I am sooo not all about recycling - I did have that sordid past after all ;)
If you write it, I'll read it. Maybe even comment on it.
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