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Forgive me if I ramble a bit with this. I’m having trouble finding the proper words to frame my questions.
First, I’m wondering if anyone knows of an existing word for the verbal sound effects used in conversation, especially when telling a story. I’m not talking about onomatopoeia. As I understand it, a word has to have independent meaning to qualify as onomatopoeia – crash, drip, sigh, quack and snap all seem to qualify. For the scenario I have in mind, it’s a verbal sound effect without a formal meaning. It probably doesn’t even qualify as a word.
For instance, I might tell a story where I was walking aimlessly down the street and say “So, I was walking down the street – doo de doo de doo – when, out of nowhere, someone slammed into me from behind”. Frequently, there’d be a pantomime associated with it, in this case, a pantomime of casually or mindlessly looking about while walking. Any ideas on what such an utterance should be called?
Second, I’ve recently become aware that many people use the same utterance I use for the mindless-goings-on indicator sound effect mentioned above. It might be used for walking about, or looking through a shelf of books, or packing boxes in preparation for moving. “Doo de doo de doo” is an approximation. I suppose it might represent whistling or humming. Does anyone else use this sound indicate a similar feeling? Does anyone have any ideas as to where this comes from?
Thanks!
Are they the same kind of noises as these?
tada ( look here!)
duh ( how stupid! )
blah blah ( nonessential verbiage)
Perhaps there is no name for them.
Yours above seems most like Diane Keaton's la-di-da in Annie Hall when she imitates herself blabbing nonsense to fill spaces.
Robert B, yes, I'd place those in the same category. I'm holding out hope that some linguist studies these expressions and has come up with a term for them.
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Ron, I know you're right about describing a tune or a rhythm in words. Maybe I should put up a short video on youtube... I'll see if I can find a spare moment today.
I keep thinking that in high school speech class, the "er"s, "ub"s, "ah"s, were referred to as ?verbal static". I don't remember well, because it's been thousands of years since I was in high school, and because I didn't actually take the class. The teacher was a guy who'd been bitter enemies with my brother when they were both in high school, and so he made a flat-out statement on the first day of class that he was going to flunk me, so I dropped that class and signed up for typing instead, which turned out to be quite handy.
Google leads me to believe that was not a well-accepted phrase, but the best I can find is "disfluencies", which isn't on this weel's top 40 list, either.
Mike Fischer asked: I’m wondering if anyone knows of an existing word for the verbal sound effects used in conversation, especially when telling a story. I’m not talking about onomatopoeia. As I understand it, a word has to have independent meaning to qualify as onomatopoeia – crash, drip, sigh, quack and snap all seem to qualify. For the scenario I have in mind, it’s a verbal sound effect without a formal meaning. It probably doesn’t even qualify as a word.
I'd never heard the term before, but from this definition, it seems like those types of phrases are known as "stunt words." Not sure if "singing" the phrase as opposed to just saying it makes any difference. Either way seems to fit the definition.
I don't know the name for it, but this is the tune I always associate with it. Probably because my father sang it this way in his story-telling......
doodeedoo tune (two repetitions)
Apologies for poor sound quality. Air conditioner in room, bad microphone.
polistra said
I don't know the name for it, but this is the tune I always associate with it. Probably because my father sang it this way in his story-telling......doodeedoo tune (two repetitions)
Apologies for poor sound quality. Air conditioner in room, bad microphone.
Sounds like Jomer Simpson doing an impression of Barney Rubble. Sounds like you had a childhood most of would have loved to have.
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