Sambodhi 1998 Vol 21

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 80

ON THE SEMANTIC ASPECT OF SOME TYPES OF GUJARATI
ONOMATOPOEIAS
H. C. Bhayani Below I have noted those Gujarati onomatopoeias that are not sound-imitative, but instead are imitative of the sensation of touch, that of notion and the visual sensation of light and physical conditional of an object.
(1) There are several phoņaesthemes (phon.s) in Gujarati that are imitative of the sensation of touch. The reduplication is expressive of the fact that the sensation is continuous and not momentary.
[1] The phon.s ending in -m-. 1. camcam-vū—to produce burning or smarting sensation on the skin by
smiting.' 2. tamtam-vū—'to flicker'. The sensation of light is also associated. 3. tamtam-vū—'to feel the sensation of irritation on the tongue due to tasting
of hot eatables 4. ramram-vū—The same as No. 2. 5. samsam-vū—(usually in the compound verbal group 'samsamī rahevű) 'to
remain feeling internally the sensation of pain or grief.
[2]. The phon.s ending in -r-. 1. carcar-vū—(cacarvű)—to produce weak burning sensation on the skin.' 2. karkarī that which has a rough surface because of sharp points and edges.'
[3]. The phon.s ending in -d-. 1. gadgadiyā, gadbadiyã "tickling, titillation.'
[4]. The phon.s ending in -s-. . 1. tastas-vū—to be close fitting so as to be pulling apart at seems.'
[5]. The phon. ending in ļ. valvalāt-light itching sensation' (on the tongue produced by tasting some kinds of vegetables like the elephant's foot.)