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Post by Maria on May 2, 2006 14:41:15 GMT -5
In our co-op poetry class yesterday we had a discussion about if certain words were, or were not, onomatopoeia. The model poem was "Barbershop" and the words in question are squirm, shiver, shuffle and wiggle. I (the unknowledgeable teacher ) said those words are not things you would hear, so they are not onomatopoeia. Although I acknowledged that 'shuffle' could, perhaps, be heard. My students were in disagreement over the matter so I told them I would post the question here and bring in the responses next Monday. Is this one of those 'gray' areas that could be a matter of opinion? Or, is it a matter of fact whether a word is onomatopoeia or not? btw: the boys are especially having fun inventing onomatopoeia, they seem to be born with the capability! ;D Thanks in advance!
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Post by Carolyn on May 2, 2006 15:46:52 GMT -5
You've got some astute students! Squirm, shiver, shuffle and wiggle are all onomatopoeic words. In a quiet setting, you can hear all these activities. Imagine being in a very quiet place ... say, church during silent prayer, or a moment of silence in a public place. If a child shuffled in, took a seat behind you, squirmed in the chair, then wiggled off it and stood shivering .... you'd notice. Boys do seem to be born with onomatopoiec abilities far surpassing girls. I had to learn to make a vrooming noise, my son did it spontaneously when he saw a truck. Carolyn
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