Questions tagged [sounds]
for questions asking to describe a sound
1
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1answer
53 views
I described text as sounding a certain way and someone said “I can’t hear him” what is what he did called?
This occurring on a thread of messages and someone previously commented and I replied mentioning they “sounded mad.” Someone then replied, “How is he sounding? I can’t hear him” What is what they did ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
Name for phrases that sound the same but have different meanings?
Is there a special name for two phrases that have the same sound, but mean different things from each other? For example
Wishing well
Could be used in either the context of "I wish you well," or ...
0
votes
2answers
87 views
Are there any words describing normal breathing?
I am not sure but I can't find any words that describe normal calm breathing. Something that describes the exhale of a breath or blowing air out from your mouth. Not frantic or puffed breathing just ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Subject + sound + Adjective
I called after him, worried that I might have sounded ungrateful.
Unlike 'It sounds [Adjective].', if a person subject comes instead of 'it', what does the verb 'sound' mean?
I'm not sure for the ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
In words like able, or candle does the l function as a vowel and the e function as a consonant?
I was recently told as part of my THRASS (phonics program for primary schools) training that in words ending in -le such as able, crumple, candle etc that the letter l functions as a vowel with the ...
4
votes
2answers
92 views
Sound of ropes / strings / clothing material sliding against each other?
Think of the ropes of boats moored to a dock, but having to listen carefully (not loud and obvious) like 'creaking' or 'squeaking'.
It would have to denote friction without screeching - more like '...
4
votes
3answers
424 views
Word (adjective) to describe a harsh sound
Context: My brother just played a video with loud screeching noises in the background about 5 feet from me as I was reading a pleasant book. I turned to chastise him, exclaiming,
"John! Turn that ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
The inconsistent long i sound in English [duplicate]
As a phonics teacher, I have long had a problem with finding the right explanation to my students about an inconsistent sound. Hope someone has the explanation to it here.
The long i sound in ...
7
votes
7answers
7k views
Word for the sound of keyboard typing
Is there any word or phrase denoting the sound of typing on the keyboard?
I made my research, through which I found two words from Quora — a Q&A site; those two words are: "clicking" and "tac tac....
3
votes
2answers
1k views
A word denoting the sound of turning pages
The two words (adjectives) I found in Yahoo Answers site, that perhaps (I am not sure) describe the sound of turning pages, when they rifled by the wind: fluttering and flapping.
Other than those ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views
Word for the sound produced while walking down the stairs
Here, I want the word pertaining to the sound of human footsteps while walking down the stairs. The word I am looking for, can be contrasted with the word of the sound of footsteps of army marching. I ...
17
votes
5answers
4k views
A name for the sound of liquid discharging from a bottle into a glass
Today, I googled, and could find the terms, like dip and plop.
Is there any word when we pour water into the glass, and we hear the sound produced within a bottle?
As I poured myself a drink, I ...
0
votes
4answers
406 views
Verb for when cats meow other than meow itself
If
a dog barks "woof" (or some other variation)
a frog croaks "ribbit"
is there a verb for when cats "meow" other than "meow" itself?
I am specifically looking for a word that is usually only ...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
What happens phonetically in “words that”?
Could you explain to me what happens from the linguist’s point of view when the sounds meet in the speech?
0
votes
3answers
299 views
What is the type of sound-based language conversion called?
Background
I have been using the type of conversion for my Korean students when trying to get them to pronounce English words slightly more accurately.
I don't transcribe the meaning of the words. I ...
-1
votes
2answers
122 views
If a .midi is a sequence(d audio), what is a .wav or .mp3?
If a .midi is sequence(d audio), what is a .wav or .mp3? Streamed audio? Wave audio?
Edit: I know what the difference is/what they are, I'm asking about the terminology.
0
votes
1answer
61 views
General verb for animal making sound
English language has different verbs for different species of animals making sound, many are onomatopoeias. But is there a general verb that can be applied to an unnamed animal? e.g., can I say "I ...
1
vote
0answers
770 views
What's the word for the sound people make when they have their mouth covered? [closed]
What's the word for the unintelligible sound people make when they have their mouth covered?
For example someone who is being held as a hostage with a cloth gagged(?) around their mouth, and they're ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
What's the word to describe the sound of a pebble (or pebbles) falling on a rock surface? Clack, tap, clank…? Thanks! [closed]
What's the word that could best describe the sound of a pebble (or pebbles) falling on a rock surface? Clack, tap, clank...? Thanks!
0
votes
2answers
689 views
Do waves clash or collide, or both? [closed]
Are hard waves crashing on rocks? Do waves collide in the ocean?
4
votes
2answers
13k views
Word for sound made by tongue and teeth
I'm looking for a word that describes the sound made when a person rubs their tongue on the side of their inner teeth. It's like a wet noise and it's supposed to denote a positive gesture rather than ...
5
votes
1answer
140 views
Confusing 'r' sounds
In their kids song "Crazy ABCs", the Barenaked Ladies sing about words that start with confusing sounds:
A is for aisle
B is for bdellium
C is for czar
However, when the song gets to "r":...
3
votes
6answers
6k views
How to describe this metallic sound?
Link to the sound in question
Another example of the sound
I'm trying to write a sword fight scene where a swordsman is able to predict his opponent's next swing. And every time he does, he hears ...
0
votes
1answer
569 views
Why does the dictionary give the pronunciation of the word “of” as '\əv' with a 'v' sound when in some cases it's pronounced with 'f' sound?
"of" seems to be pronounced with the f sound asˈäf in phrases like "of course". But 'of' is pronounced as \əv in a lot of other cases.
Yet, Merriam Websters gives the one with 'v' sound as the only ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Filler sounds in English
I live in Australia, and I went back to Jordan for a holiday. I went to a barber's shop and as usual in there was a conversation between me and the barber.
All of a sudden he told me you don't live ...
5
votes
3answers
609 views
What's the name of this sound/collection of sounds?
What is it called when one expresses "Yes", "No", or "I Don't Know" without using words - just humming their response? You know, when someone responds with a low note than a high note for Yes or "Ah-...
1
vote
0answers
388 views
By what do you identify words in sound? [closed]
In order to identify words with sound, I think we use certain aspects of the sound, not all aspect of sound. For example, I think that we can identify words if timbres (units of timbres) and pitch ...
2
votes
2answers
69 views
Do you hear words as sequences of smaller components?
This is the question of how to hear language sound. I think most of Japanese people hear Japanese words as a sequence of sound units which are the most fundamental. And, I guessed that this was true ...
1
vote
1answer
889 views
How do I describe the booting sound of some electronic devices?
I'm working on a scientific novel where I need to describe the futuristic drones are initiating and booting. How do I describe that kind of sound? The sound that is similar to the sound when an auto-...
0
votes
1answer
574 views
How do you pronounce words with the letter d?
I'm foreign and this causes me a lot of trouble. Sometimes the 'd' is pronounced normally [d], for example - done, but sometimes it's pronounced as [dʒ], for example - dream. How should I pronounce ...
7
votes
1answer
217 views
Do you usually divide words into elements?
English sounds sound complex for me as a non-native speaker, because of vowel reduction.
English vowels in words can take a wide range of form in natural speech due to vowel reduction and whether you ...
1
vote
1answer
423 views
When was the velarized allophone of /l/ (IPA [ɫ]) formed in English?
English, Portuguese, Dutch, and Russian all have velarized [ɫ] at the syllable coda. When did this start happening in English?
0
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2answers
1k views
Pronunciation and transcription of the vowel in “fear”, “dear”, “near” etc
I wonder, words like fear, dear, near and so on have long e in pronunciation, and it should be transcribed as /i:/, but I've found it transcribed as short /ɪ/. Why is that?
1
vote
0answers
143 views
Does English have 8,000 sounds?
I remember hearing a few years ago that English had 8,000 different sounds, and it's something that has stuck with me this entire time. I've started to question this knowledge, since googling various ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
Connected speech in a tongue twister
A friend of mine just forwarded me a tongue twister. And I got curious about a possible relation with connected speech
The pheasant plucker’s daughter sits plucking pheasants pleasantly
Such a ...
0
votes
1answer
296 views
How are words that describe a certain sound called? [duplicate]
They're different in different languages, but I'm looking for the name of the category of those words.
For example, a sound of dog's barking: "woof-woof". But in Russian it's "ghav-ghav";
A sound of ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Word for “tongue clapping”
So there's this sound that sounds like "click" that you make if you move your tongue high up, bend it backward and then fastly hit floor of the mouth with it. I'm not even sure how it's called in my ...
12
votes
1answer
2k views
What does Donald Trump mean by “bigly”?
The Presidential candidate seems to have resurrected the adverb bigly, the most recent example of which that the OED is able to quote being from 1927.
I am, though just wondering in which sense he ...
-1
votes
2answers
108 views
since you = sinchu correct? [closed]
I have listened to a song 'since you been gone'. The singer pronounces 'since you been gone' as 'sinchu been gone'. At least I have heard that. Am I correct? Here that part https://youtu.be/...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
onomatopoeia for taking a deep breath before speaking
I'm writing a comic, and a character is about to ask another character for help, but it's taken her a lot of effort to be able to ask for help. So, before she finally asks she takes a deep breath and ...
4
votes
3answers
21k views
Word for the noise made by a knife
Bark is the abrupt, harsh, explosive cry of a dog.
Clatter is the sound made by two or more hard objects hitting each other.
Splash is the sound of something falling into a liquid, normally water.
...
3
votes
1answer
145 views
Naming Duos: Why “Hall and Oates” over “Oates and Hall”?
When listing a pair of names (like Laverne and Shirley) or a duo of terms connected by "and" (such as "peanut butter and jelly"), is there a reason why one word order would sound better than the ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
The ordering of word pairs: anyone for chips and fish?
When we list pairs of words, certain orders seem much more common and natural than others.
A few examples:
Fish and chips instead of chips and fish
Ladies and gentlemen instead of gentlemen and ...
8
votes
1answer
228 views
When did animal sounds get codified?
Every kindergartner knows that a sheep says baa, a cow says moo, a cat says meow and a goat says maa. But this is just in English. In other languages, they say other things.
When did animal sounds ...
1
vote
3answers
5k views
Examples of lenition and fortition usage
The latest XKCD comic is titled Intervocalic Fortition. The latest Explain XKCD says:
The linguistic processes of lenition ("weakening") and fortition ("strengthening") refer to a sound becoming, ...
3
votes
2answers
163 views
Word referring to all letters with the long ē sound [closed]
I read something a while back that defined all letters pronounced- and phonetically ending-with a long /ē/, i.e.:
Bee
Cee
Dee
Ee
Gee
Pee
Tee
Vee
Zee
I can no longer find the aforementioned reference;...
1
vote
1answer
4k views
Should I use speech marks for sounds?
If I were to describe a sudden sound, in this example: Boom!
Were I to put it in speech marks: "Boom!"
Just like in a dialogue, or to do something else, in that case what?
11
votes
10answers
34k views
Word for the noise made by a helicopter?
I once read about a nice word that describes the specific noise made by a helicopter in flight.
It wasn't a generic verb like "rattling" or "juddering", but one that only applies to helicopters.
It ...
0
votes
3answers
6k views
Sound of a zip fastener?
I was wondering, how would you best describe the sound a zip fastener makes when it's opened or closed slowly?
You know, that "r-r-r-r-r" kind of sound?
I thought about growling, but that feels too ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
A word that describes a sound that is not an onomatopoeia
By necessity, visual phenomena have abstract descriptions. The word yellow is only linked to the actual color because our teachers told us so. Sounds are easier to describe. Because language is sound, ...
