On the Semantic Aspect of Some Types of Gujarati Onomatopoeias
By Harivallabh Chunilal Bhayani
Summary
H. C. Bhayani's article examines Gujarati onomatopoeias that do not imitate sound but instead replicate sensations of touch, notion, and the visual perception of light, as well as the physical condition of objects. The author argues that reduplication in these phonesthemes expresses the continuity and non-momentary nature of the sensations they convey. The article categorizes these phonesthemes based on their terminal sounds. For the sensation of touch, the author lists phonesthemes ending in -m-, such as camcam-vu for a burning skin sensation, and tamtam-vu for irritation on the tongue. The -r- ending is represented by carcar-vu, while the -d- ending is seen in gadgadiya for tickling. The -s- ending is exemplified by tastas-vu, and the -l- ending by valvalat for an itching sensation. For the sensation of notion, objective or subjective, the author discusses phonesthemes ending in -b-, such as matamatav-vu for winking, and -d-, like advadi-yu for a stumble. The -m- ending is represented by kamkam-vu for shivering, and the -r- ending by tharathar-vu for trembling. The -s- ending is exemplified by dhasmas-vu for rushing, and the -l- ending by khalbhal-vui for agitation. For the visual sensation of light, the author lists jhagmag-vu for shining brightly, tagtag-vu for glittering, and jhalhal-vu for shining dazzlingly. The author also notes that pacpac-tu, lacpac-tu, and ladbad, which describe objects being soaked or drenched, focus on the physical condition of the object rather than a sensation. The primary source cited throughout the text is R. L. Turner's 1966 work, A Comparative Dictionary of Indo-Aryan Languages.
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Conclusion
This study reveals that Gujarati onomatopoeias frequently transcend direct sound imitation to represent tactile, kinesthetic, and visual sensations. The analysis demonstrates that reduplication serves to convey continuous rather than momentary sensory experiences, while specific phonesthemes correlate with distinct physical feelings, movements, and light conditions. These findings highlight the rich semantic flexibility of Gujarati onomatopoeic formations, suggesting that they function as a sophisticated linguistic system for encoding diverse perceptual modalities. The research underscores the importance of examining non-auditory sensory representations in linguistic typology, offering significant insights into how languages map physical and sensory realities onto phonetic structures. This approach expands the understanding of onomatopoeia beyond mere sound symbolism, revealing its broader role in expressing complex sensory and physical states.