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Ah, aaah, aha, augh et al
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fabzorba
Dec 9, 2012, 8:43:50 AM12/9/12
to
Here is brief and incomplete list of non- words which are imitative in
origin and signify feelings without recourse to lexical vocabularies.
I am now surprised that there seems to be no idiomatic term for them,
as "nonsense words" is not apposite in these contexts. There are, of
course, many more such phonemic compounds, which I invite others to
add and discuss. I have selected these coz they were the ones being
discussed in a contemporaneous thread:
https://groups.google.com/group/alt.usage.english/browse_thread/thread/2aa9fc3e2b540929/5e7a83b97064bb1a#5e7a83b97064bb1a
Aaah:
Expression of sensuous satisfaction, as in getting into a warm bath,
or savouring fine food. (Can be lengthened for extra effect: aaaaaah,
but is not usually shortened to aah, as the rarity of the triple a
renders it more closely associated with non-words that appeal directly
to imitative rather than lexical models.)
Ah:
Baseline ejaculatory expression that can relate to pain, pleasure or
sympathy, and projects a notion of sudden awareness.
Aha:
Connotations of "sudden awareness" are here enhanced and intensified.
A bulb has been switched on in someone's mind. Something that had
previously confused him has now become clear. Often has Zen overtones.
Recently given legs with books on the "Aha! moment" and such.
Augh:
Wail of despair in situations which are not especially grave, and are
often comical. Popularized through Charlie Brown's use of it in
Peanuts.
Oh:
Baseline expression of surprise and often concern
O:
Now largely obsolete vocative calling for attention in contexts of
elevated concerns, and very close to "Behold!"
Uh oh:
Expression of sudden concern over something that has gone wrong. Last
second of shuttle Challenger's radio transmission was an "uh oh", just
before it blew up. At least it was not "Shit!" which is the most used
expression as determined from retrieved black boxes of aircraft which
have encountered terrain with "extreme prejudice". If there is a
pathos of higher technology, here it is.
Ugh:
Two meanings, quite distinct:
1. Expression of disgust, usually over food or some other experience
which is primarily physical, rather than intellectual or emotional.
2. Stereotypical expression of caveman types, especially Neanderthals,
meant to convey their intellectual inferiority. If such were alive
today, the attribution of these expressions to them would have
perpetrator up before a hate speech inquisition. See also "Doh!" as
used by Homer Simpson, and before him, Moose from the Archie comics.
Uh-uh:
Louche and lazy form of yes, designed to evince the minimum in
enthusiasm andor cooperation. Thus, prime exemplar of American
coolness.
Uh-huh:
Close to the above but meaning no. The two forms are candidates for
the only non-compositional antonyms.
origin and signify feelings without recourse to lexical vocabularies.
I am now surprised that there seems to be no idiomatic term for them,
as "nonsense words" is not apposite in these contexts. There are, of
course, many more such phonemic compounds, which I invite others to
add and discuss. I have selected these coz they were the ones being
discussed in a contemporaneous thread:
https://groups.google.com/group/alt.usage.english/browse_thread/thread/2aa9fc3e2b540929/5e7a83b97064bb1a#5e7a83b97064bb1a
Aaah:
Expression of sensuous satisfaction, as in getting into a warm bath,
or savouring fine food. (Can be lengthened for extra effect: aaaaaah,
but is not usually shortened to aah, as the rarity of the triple a
renders it more closely associated with non-words that appeal directly
to imitative rather than lexical models.)
Ah:
Baseline ejaculatory expression that can relate to pain, pleasure or
sympathy, and projects a notion of sudden awareness.
Aha:
Connotations of "sudden awareness" are here enhanced and intensified.
A bulb has been switched on in someone's mind. Something that had
previously confused him has now become clear. Often has Zen overtones.
Recently given legs with books on the "Aha! moment" and such.
Augh:
Wail of despair in situations which are not especially grave, and are
often comical. Popularized through Charlie Brown's use of it in
Peanuts.
Oh:
Baseline expression of surprise and often concern
O:
Now largely obsolete vocative calling for attention in contexts of
elevated concerns, and very close to "Behold!"
Uh oh:
Expression of sudden concern over something that has gone wrong. Last
second of shuttle Challenger's radio transmission was an "uh oh", just
before it blew up. At least it was not "Shit!" which is the most used
expression as determined from retrieved black boxes of aircraft which
have encountered terrain with "extreme prejudice". If there is a
pathos of higher technology, here it is.
Ugh:
Two meanings, quite distinct:
1. Expression of disgust, usually over food or some other experience
which is primarily physical, rather than intellectual or emotional.
2. Stereotypical expression of caveman types, especially Neanderthals,
meant to convey their intellectual inferiority. If such were alive
today, the attribution of these expressions to them would have
perpetrator up before a hate speech inquisition. See also "Doh!" as
used by Homer Simpson, and before him, Moose from the Archie comics.
Uh-uh:
Louche and lazy form of yes, designed to evince the minimum in
enthusiasm andor cooperation. Thus, prime exemplar of American
coolness.
Uh-huh:
Close to the above but meaning no. The two forms are candidates for
the only non-compositional antonyms.
JOF
Dec 9, 2012, 1:15:03 PM12/9/12
to
--
John
R H Draney
Dec 9, 2012, 2:04:08 PM12/9/12
to
fabzorba filted:
--
Me? Sarcastic?
Yeah, right.
>
>Uh-uh:
>Louche and lazy form of yes, designed to evince the minimum in
>enthusiasm andor cooperation. Thus, prime exemplar of American
>coolness.
>
>Uh-huh:
>Close to the above but meaning no. The two forms are candidates for
>the only non-compositional antonyms.
You have the meanings of those two reversed....r
>Uh-uh:
>Louche and lazy form of yes, designed to evince the minimum in
>enthusiasm andor cooperation. Thus, prime exemplar of American
>coolness.
>
>Uh-huh:
>Close to the above but meaning no. The two forms are candidates for
>the only non-compositional antonyms.
--
Me? Sarcastic?
Yeah, right.
Mike L
Dec 9, 2012, 6:04:21 PM12/9/12
to
On Sun, 09 Dec 2012 12:15:03 -0600, JOF <qu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
[...]
dogs do this to them on TV, and I cringe loudly: what the hell do they
do when nobody's _looking_? (Don't tell me.)
--
Mike.
[...]
>
>Bleagh: reaction to being tongue-kissed by a dog.
Indeed: and to seeing somebody else think it's cute. People often let
>Bleagh: reaction to being tongue-kissed by a dog.
dogs do this to them on TV, and I cringe loudly: what the hell do they
do when nobody's _looking_? (Don't tell me.)
--
Mike.
BCD
Dec 9, 2012, 7:57:55 PM12/9/12
to
On 12/9/2012 5:43 AM, fabzorba wrote:
>
> [...]
>
***An expressionless expression of "Ugh!" is (or was in pre-PC times)
also the ejaculation of choice by (Red) Indians as conceived by the
world of the Theater, Hollywood, comic strips, dime novels, and such.
Its purport seems to amount to "I herewith acknowledge having heard your
statement."
Best Wishes,
--BCD
>
> [...]
> Ugh:
> Two meanings, quite distinct:
> 1. Expression of disgust, usually over food or some other experience
> which is primarily physical, rather than intellectual or emotional.
> 2. Stereotypical expression of caveman types, especially Neanderthals,
> meant to convey their intellectual inferiority. If such were alive
> today, the attribution of these expressions to them would have
> perpetrator up before a hate speech inquisition. See also "Doh!" as
> used by Homer Simpson, and before him, Moose from the Archie comics.
> [...]
> Two meanings, quite distinct:
> 1. Expression of disgust, usually over food or some other experience
> which is primarily physical, rather than intellectual or emotional.
> 2. Stereotypical expression of caveman types, especially Neanderthals,
> meant to convey their intellectual inferiority. If such were alive
> today, the attribution of these expressions to them would have
> perpetrator up before a hate speech inquisition. See also "Doh!" as
> used by Homer Simpson, and before him, Moose from the Archie comics.
>
***An expressionless expression of "Ugh!" is (or was in pre-PC times)
also the ejaculation of choice by (Red) Indians as conceived by the
world of the Theater, Hollywood, comic strips, dime novels, and such.
Its purport seems to amount to "I herewith acknowledge having heard your
statement."
Best Wishes,
--BCD
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