Journal Articles SKASE Journal of Theoretical Linguistics Year : 2025

Gizey onomatopoeias

Abstract

This paper offers a first overview of onomatopoeias in Gizey, a languoid of the Masa branch of Chadic (Afroasiatic). Onomatopoeias are classified as a subset of ideophones, which include words, irrespective of word class (nouns, interjections, and adverbs), that depict sensory experiences. Like other ideophones, onomatopoeias show morphological operations. A remarkable feature of Gizey onomatopoeias is the prevalence of the CiC (Consonant-vowel /i/-Consonant) root structure. However, there does not appear to be any transparent CiC-meaning association. Tentatively, we argue that the CiC pattern is merely a morphological niche from which new onomatopoeias are modelled. Finally, we highlight other more potentially serious instances of sound symbolism in Gizey onomatopoeias.

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hal-05203918 , version 1 (08-08-2025)

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  • HAL Id : hal-05203918 , version 1

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Guillaume Guitang, Pius W. Akumbu. Gizey onomatopoeias. SKASE Journal of Theoretical Linguistics, 2025, Studies in Lexical Iconicity, 22 (2), pp.48-60. ⟨hal-05203918⟩
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