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1. Are there words that look like what they mean?
2. Is there a word for this sort of word?
In the case of onomotopeia, we hear a sound, then attempt to transcribe it.
Written English lends itself to this very nicely, since it is in fact a
system for transcribing sounds. However, its function does not include
visually representing things, at least not by design. So, if there ARE
words that look like what they mean it's probably by accident. (At least, I
can't think of any!)
The answer to number 2 is "yes": pictograph. However, I've only heard this
term used to describe entire writng systems, such as Chinese. I don't think
it would be accurate to use it to describe an English word that looked like
what it meant.
For one thing, such a word would still have a specific sound dictated by the
spelling, and this characteristic is not included in the idea of
"pictograph" per se.
The word "S-shaped" begs the question, since it is not in itself shaped like
an 'S.' For a word to look like what it meant, it would have to be
something like "ii," meaning 2 lampposts side-by side; or "ovo," meaning
angry owl (it's there if you look for it!). If there is a word for words
like "S-shaped," I'm not familiar with it.
I suppose this whole situation is reversed for sign-language. A signer's
"onomatopoeia," so to speak, would be a sign that looks like what it is,
true onomatopoeia being impossible.
Like you, I think it's great that you and SME are discussing such things!
All the best!
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Merran Fahlman [SMTP:merran -dot- fahlman -at- caenewnes -dot- com]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 6:26 PM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: visual onomatopoeia
>
> First post to the list and it's a peculiar one. I just received this
> message
> from a SME:
>
> "I assume you understand the concept behind the word onomatopoeia. That
> the
> pronunciation of the word mimics the sound it is describing. Do you know
> of
> an analogous word but in the visual sense. Is there a word that describes
> the concept behind a phrase such as 'S-shaped'?"
>
> In the interests of furthering communication between writers and
> engineers,
> I would love to be able to answer knowledgeably. Concrete poetry is the
> closest concept that I can think of, or maybe he's describing something
> glyphically. Nice anyway, to be interrupted by something so poetic in the
> middle of the workday.
>
> Merran Fahlman
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