Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Sneeze

(English- official)
Achoo
Atchoo
Achew
(unofficial)
Atisshoo
ahhhHOOOOO (incredibly loud)
chew, chew
(quick dip of head while finger is held at nose)
, (same only repeated)
Ha ChOo
Assthschsoo (need a tissue?)

(French)
Atchoum

(Finnish)
Atsiuh

(Icelandic)
Atsju

(Swedish)
Atjo

(Danish)
Atju

(Dutch)
Hatsjoe
Hatsjie

(Hebrew/Lithuanian)
Apchi

(German)
Hatschie

(Hungarian)
Hapci

(Polish)
Apsik

(Russian)
Apchkhi

(Turkish)
Hapsu

(Italian)
Etciu

(Spanish)
Achus

(Portuguese)
Atchim

(Romanian)
Hapciu

(Malayalam)
Thummal

(Filipino)
Hatsing

(Japanese)
Hakushon

(Tamil)
Thummal

(Korean)
Achee

(Vietnamese)
Hat-xi

(Cypriot Greek)
Apshoo


It’s incredible how one particular sound becomes interpreted so differently based on the language one is using. Physically a sneeze is a different sound to each person depending on how the ear is hearing it. This sound is then heard by a person with their own subjective way of describing such a sound. Phonetically it is based on the way that sound might be described. The way it is described changes the way it would be spelled depending on the language.
I find this to be most noticeable when describing animal noises. In trying to illustrate the sound of a bee on paper (Enlgish- buzz) most languages would use the “Z” noise to demonstrate the buzzing aspect. However, German uses “sum sum” and Japanese writes “boon boon” neither of which I, being an English speaker, would necessarily relate to the noise of a bee.
A cow lowing, or the noise one might associate with “moo” is generally the same in most languages with the Urdu exception of “baeh.”
A dog barking, ”woof woof,” “ruff-ruff,” “bow-wow” or anything you might think of in association with this noise is only very different from the “kian kian” or “wan wan” of Japanese.
The horse’s “neigh” also becomes more interesting with the variations of “hi-hiiin” in Japanese, “i-go-go” of Russian, and “iihaha” of Swedish.
Some languages even seem to intent on describing animal noises most languages don’t have an official sound for, like that of the woodcock, the female turkey, the camel, the deer, and the crane. Why this need for official onomatopoeia? To have a language definition of certain sound we all find so objective? To make it easier for children to identify sounds when they play with that animal noise toy, to know exactly how they might express what the cow, dog, horse, sheep, or pig says? So that we can include the sound of a sneeze in our writing without confusing everyone as to exactly what kind of action we might be describing? Why does English have three sounds for a sneeze? Do English speakers have such strong stances concerning “achoo” versus “atchoo?” Frankly I think I’m more concerned about the sneeze itself. Have you seen this?




Absolutely disgusting, phlegm, snot flying at miles per hour in your vicinity. Maybe we should be less concerned about the noise that it makes and start wearing face covers to prevent this barrage of natural germ warfare from afflicting us, as I’m sure it does, daily. “Achoo” Excuse me. Oh yes you’re excused. I’ll even say “Bless you” if you point your nose away from my face thanks.

Sidenote: Wikipedia has a fantastic list of reponses to sneezes in different languages in case you get tired of the usual.

1 comment:

  1. Actually, in German the single "s" makes a noise like a z! so it would be like zum zum. But as far as the Japanese version is concerned, I got nothin.

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