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
91. VROOM
car, engine 		How do you imitate a roaring sound made by a motor at high speed? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
92. WATERFOWL
goose, duck 		How do you imitate a gabbling or cackling sound uttered by waterfowl (geese, ducks or other water birds found in your area)? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)? Please, specify the bird(s) in the Comments.
int.
n.
v.
93. WAVES
water 		How do you imitate soft, rustling sounds made by waves coming on the shore? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
94. WEEP
cry 		How do you imitate a low complaining cry, a sound that little children utter from uneasiness, discontent, or peevishness, or any cry accompanied with tears? How do you name such cry? How do you name the action of producing such a cry?
int.
n.
v.
95. WHEEZE How do you imitate a whistling sound a person makes when breathing with difficulty (as when a person has asthma)? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
96. WHISPER How do you name a sound imitating speaking in a soft hushed tone without vibration of the vocal cords? How do you name such manner of speaking?
int.
n.
v.
97. WHISTLE
lips 		How do you name a shrill clear sound (of whistling? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
98. WHOOSH
air, bullet 		How do you name a dull soft sibilant sound, like that of something (e.g., a bullet) rushing through the air? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
99. WIND
blow, howl 		How do you imitate howling or blowing of wind? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
100. YAWN How do you name an act of yawning? How do you imitate it?
int.
n.
v.























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