Manfred Papst Explores Onomatopoeia in NZZ am Sonntag Column

In his column «Die Zugabe» for NZZ am Sonntag, Manfred Papst examines the human tendency to spontaneously imitate non-linguistic sounds with language. He notes that this impulse is involuntary, like cries of pain, and linguists call it onomatopoeia. The ancient Greek verb «onomatopoieîn» means «to create a name, to name». Papst cites examples such as rumbling, rattling, chirping, neighing, meowing, crowing, mooing, and bleating. He mentions the cuckoo, called Cuculus canorus in Latin, and the song «Kuckuck, kuckuck, ruft’s aus dem Wald». He argues that exclamations like «autsch», «huhu», «ah», and «oh», as well as groaning and sighing, are the beginning of all poetry. However, each language has limited articulatory possibilities, so roosters sound different: kikeriki in German, cocorico in French, cock-a-doodle-doo in English, kukeleku in Dutch. He also notes human laziness in not listening closely, pointing out that dogs never say «wau-wau» as Germans claim, while French «ouaf-ouaf» and English «woof-woof» are closer. Onomatopoeia appears in words like clapping, sniffing, and snorkeling. Poets and children understand this. Papst praises comic-book interjections, called Erikative after translator Erika Fuchs, such as Keuch! Grins! Prassel! Quietsch! Stotter! Klirr! Schepper! He concludes that what happens to us escapes us in sounds: a door slams, and we involuntarily say «peng!», perhaps startled, surprised, but above all appreciative.