2.1.10

Onomatopoeia

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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

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.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terms

1.1

Key Terms

1.1.1Key Terms - Nouns, Verbs & Sentences1.1.2Key Terms - Sentence and Clause Types1.1.3Key Terms - Words, Sounds & Language1.1.4Key Terms - Types of Language1.1.5Key Terms - Images, Symbols & Mood1.1.6Key Terms - Mood & Feelings1.1.7Key Terms - Other Techniques1.1.8End of Topic Test - Key Terms
2

Language Devices

2.1

Language Devices

2.1.1Metaphors2.1.2Similes2.1.3Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning2.1.4Personification2.1.5Pathetic Fallacy2.1.6Puns & Oxymorons2.1.7Hyperbole & Emotive Language2.1.8Alliteration2.1.9Sibilance2.1.10Onomatopoeia2.1.11Recap: Language Devices2.1.12End of Topic Test - Language Devices
3

Writing Structure

3.1

Writing Structure

3.1.1Narrators3.1.2Paragraphs3.1.3Tense3.1.4Present vs Past vs Future Tense3.1.5Foreshadowing3.1.6Structure3.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Structure
4

Section B: Reading & Writing

4.1

Writing Formats

4.1.1Letter4.1.2Reports & Essays4.1.3Journal/Diary Entry4.1.4Speech4.1.5Newspaper Article4.1.6Leaflet4.1.7Review4.1.8Travel Writing4.1.9End of Topic Test - Writing Formats
4.2

Writing to...

4.2.1Writing to Inform4.2.2Writing to Inform - Example4.2.3Writing to Explain4.2.4Writing to Explain - Example4.2.5Writing to Persuade4.2.6Writing to Persuade - Example4.2.7Writing to Argue4.2.8Writing to Argue - Example4.2.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue4.2.10Writing to Advise4.2.11Writing to Advise - Example4.2.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
4.3

Acronym of Techniques - DAFORESTAR

4.3.1Direct Address4.3.2Alliteration4.3.3Facts4.3.4Opinions4.3.5Repetition4.3.6Exaggeration (Hyperbole)4.3.7Statistics4.3.8Triple (Rule of 3)4.3.9Emotive Language4.3.10Rhetorical Questions4.3.11End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER
5

Section C: Writing

5.1

Writing Task

5.1.1Discursive Writing5.1.2Narrative Writing5.1.3Descriptive Writing5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Task

Practice questions on Onomatopoeia

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  1. 1
    Which word uses onomatopoeia in this sentence?<br><br><b>Harry smacked his lips as his mother brought out the piping hot pizza.Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which word uses onomatopoeia? Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which word uses onomatopoeia? Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which phrases use onomatopoeia?True / false
  5. 5
    Which onomatopoeic word is most appropriate for creating a tense atmosphere?Multiple choice
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Sibilance

Recap: Language Devices