1) Definition (CUET-ready)
Onomatopoeia refers to words whose sound imitates or suggests the sound they describe.
Examples (general, not text-specific):
- “buzz,” “hiss,” “bang,” “whisper,” “murmur.”
In poetry and prose, onomatopoeia is a sound device used to enhance:
- vividness,
- sensory immediacy,
- rhythm and tone.
2) How onomatopoeia works (conceptual clarity)
Onomatopoeia creates meaning through:
- the phonetic shape of a word,
- aligning sound with sense (often called “sound symbolism”).
But note:
- Different languages represent sounds differently; onomatopoeia is not purely “natural,” it is also conventional.