英文中的象声词

 

英文单词onomatopoeia（拟声，象声）来自于两个希腊词onom=name, poie=I make，连起来的意思就是 'the name (or sound) I make，也就是说，这类词与其发出的声音很像。今天，我们就来说说这个拟声词。

拟声词往往从长相上就可见一斑，所以也叫“字形拟声”，就是说，从单词的长相上看出这个词的声音含义。比如，与“水”有关的词往往含有sp/dr等流水声：

• bloop

• drip

• drizzle

• splash

• spray

• sprinkle

• squirt

我们来看一首与水有关的小诗

 

Water plops into pond

Splish-splash downhill

Warbling magpies in tree

Trilling, melodic thrill

 

Whoosh, passing breeze

Flags flutter and flap

Frog croaks, bird whistles

Babbling bubbles from tap

与“声音”有关的词，往往带有gr/mu，模拟了喉、嘴、唇的声音，如：

• bawl

• belch

• blurt

• chatter

• giggle

• growl

• grunt

• gurgle

• mumble

• murmur

与“碰撞”有关的词，往往带有cl/th/ng等清脆或沉闷的撞击声，如：

• bam

• bang

• clang

• clank

• clap

• clatter

• click

• clink

• ding

• jingle

• screech

• slap

• thud

• thump
  
  

与“气流”有关的词，如whisper，就常带wh这种摩擦气息，如：

 

• flutter

• gasp

• swish

• swoosh

• whiff

• whoosh

• whizz

• whip

• whisper
  
  

根据动物发出的声音来造词，也是英文中的一大特色，如

• bark

• bray

• buzz

• cheep

• chirp

• chortle

• cluck

• cock-a-doodle-doo

• cuckoo

• hiss

• meow

• moo

• neigh

• oink

• purr

• quack

• ribbit

• tweet

• warble
  
  

上面这些常见的拟声词就够大家喝一壶的了，末了，我再引述一首小诗做结：

 

Onomatopoeia every time I see ya

My senses tell me hubba

And I just can‘t disagree.

I get a feeling in my heart that I can't describe. . .

It's sort of whack, whir, wheeze, whine

Sputter, splat, squirt, scrape

Clink, clank, clunk, clatter

Crash, bang, beep, buzz

Ring, rip, roar, retch

Twang, toot, tinkle, thud

Pop, plop, plunk, pow

Snort, snuck, sniff, smack

Screech, splash, squish, squeak

Jingle, rattle, squeal, boing

Honk, hoot, hack, belch.

('Onomatopoeia', song by ToddRundgren)