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
21. CROW
raven 		How do you imitate a low, hoarse cry made by a crow or a raven? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
22. CUCKOO How do you imitate the call of a cuckoo? How do you name such sound(s) and this bird? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
23. DING
bell 		How do you imitate a loud ringing sound of a bell? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
24. DRUM
music 		How do you imitate a sound of a rhythmical beating of a percussion instrument or any similar sound? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)? How do you name the instrument itself?
int.
n.
v.
25. FART
break wind 		How do you imitate a noise reminiscent of someone breaking wind? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
26. FIE
disgust 		Write the sound you utter in disgust (e.g. upon breathing in some foul odour). How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
27. FLAP
wings 		How do you imitate an abrupt noise made by flapping (of wings etc. – one single action (flap) as well as a series of repetitive actions (flatter))? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)? Please, specify the nature of the sound in the Comments.
int.
n.
v.
28. FLUSH
water, toilet 		How do you imitate a sound of moving water, a sudden flow or gush (esp. in the toilet)? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.
29. GNAW
a bone		 How do you name an act of wearing something away by persistent biting or nibbling (e.g., a dog gnawing a bone) and a sound which accompanies such an act?
int.
n.
v.
30. GROWL
predator		 How do you imitate a low threatening sound, usually guttural and constrained? How do you name such sound(s)? How do you name the action of producing such sound(s)?
int.
n.
v.























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