2.1.11
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is when the way the word sounds imitates the sound it is describing.
Heels clacking
Heels clacking
- Her heels clacked on the wooden floor.
- In this phrase, ‘clacked’ is onomatopoeia because ‘clack’ sounds like the noise that high heels make when they hit wooden floors.
- The onomatopoeia adds to your writing because it grabs the reader’s attention, jarring them as the description is interrupted with the literal sound, ‘clack’.
Earthquake rumbling
Earthquake rumbling
- The earthquake rumbled across the valley.
- In this phrase, ‘rumbled’ is onomatopoeia because ‘rumble’ sounds like the noise that earthquakes make as they move through the ground.
- The onomatopoeia adds to your writing because it grabs the reader’s attention, jarring them as the description is interrupted with the literal sound, ‘rumble’.
Paint splattering
Paint splattering
- He flicked the brush and paint splattered across the wall.
- In this phrase, ‘splattered’ is onomatopoeia because ‘splat’ sounds like the noise that paint makes when it hits a surface.
- The onomatopoeia adds to your writing because it grabs the reader’s attention, jarring them as the description is interrupted with the literal sound, ‘splat’.
Tips for Using Onomatopoeia
Tips for Using Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is when the way the word sounds imitates the sound it is describing.
Focus on the sound
Focus on the sound
- Focus on the sound you are trying to create. What are you describing and what sound do you want your reader to actually hear in their heads as they read the sentence?
Consider tone/atmosphere
Consider tone/atmosphere
- Consider what kind of tone/atmosphere you are trying to create – the right onomatopoeic sound could give you a very tense feeling (‘rumble’, ‘crunch’, ‘clatter’) or could create a more uplifting feeling (‘hum’, ‘jingle’).
Choose vocabulary well
Choose vocabulary well
- Your choice of vocabulary is vital in creating your language devices effectively.
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
4Paper 1: Writing
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1DAFORESTER
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Writing to Inform
6.3.2Writing to Inform - Example
6.3.3Writing to Explain
6.3.4Writing to Explain - Example
6.3.5Writing to Persuade
6.3.6Writing to Persuade - Example
6.3.7Writing to Argue
6.3.8Writing to Argue - Example
6.3.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue
6.3.10Writing to Advise
6.3.11Writing to Advise - Example
6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
Jump to other topics
1Key Terms
2Language Techniques
2.1Language Devices
3Paper 1: Reading
4Paper 1: Writing
5Paper 2: Reading
5.1DAFORESTER
6Paper 2: Writing
6.1Structuring Your Answer
6.2Types of Writing
6.3Writing to...
6.3.1Writing to Inform
6.3.2Writing to Inform - Example
6.3.3Writing to Explain
6.3.4Writing to Explain - Example
6.3.5Writing to Persuade
6.3.6Writing to Persuade - Example
6.3.7Writing to Argue
6.3.8Writing to Argue - Example
6.3.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue
6.3.10Writing to Advise
6.3.11Writing to Advise - Example
6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing
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