Call help: What do you call (in literary terms) the noise a cow or a duck or a cat makes? - Help.com

Loki
offline Verified (1 year, 4 months) Visit Loki's shoutbox
HM

What do you call (in literary terms) the noise a cow or a duck or a cat makes?

Its not onomatopoeia, its got a more technical name than that!

This open post was written 7 months, 1 week ago | V/U/S: 135, 10, 4 | Edit Post | Leave a reply | Report Post

Reciprocity (1) Many thank yous! The poster has helped others since their own post was made.

Since writing this post Loki has helped in 1 other user's post within the last 4 days. Loki is a verified member, has been around for 1 year, 4 months and has 47 posts and 156 replies to their name.

Post Tags (9)

cat, Cattle, Literature, duck, noise, Onomatopoeia, Term, Call, Technical (How Tags Affect Reciprocity)

Replies (10)

Where were you?

Click and drag to move the map around. FAQ: How we place people on this map »
You can also watch events on Help.com as they happen
Mouse over the map for 2 seconds to see an expanded, interactive view

The Astro-Man offline Verified User (12 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Undisclosed Location | 7 months, 1 week ago (8 minutes after post)

Usually, you just say ‘cry’ or ‘call,’ depending on what noise it is making. Some animals have specific words. Cows low. Cats mew (I’ve seen it written in stories before, I think). And ducks, believe it or not, still quack.

Similarly, sheep bleat and birds chatter.

Not necessarily onomatopoeia, but it has the same effect.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Help me with: Meh, I’m done.
fengshuisweetheart offline Verified User (11 months, 2 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
Grand Rapids, MI, US | 7 months, 1 week ago (1 hour, 37 minutes after post)

I have only heard it called “animal onomatopeia.” I even checked out a list of rhetorical and literary terms I have and cannot find anything.

There are really cool lists on the web of different sounds according to location in the world: http://www.flat33.com/bzzzpeek/index1…

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Help me with: How do I stop taking on too much?
Anonymous #
7 months, 1 week ago (20 hours, 5 minutes after post)

Cats and Cows make a “lowing” sound, ducks make a “calling” sound.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
The Astro-Man offline Verified User (12 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Undisclosed Location | 7 months, 1 week ago (20 hours, 30 minutes after post)

^^ That’s the one. Thanks Anon.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Help me with: Meh, I’m done.
Anonymous #
7 months, 1 week ago (20 hours, 43 minutes after post)

Astro-Man wrote:
^^ That’s the one. Thanks Anon.

Why do you think they say to use a Duck “CALL” when “calling ducks? But really which one is it? My Dad used to say that before a storm cows would lay on the ground and “LOW” (”MOO” as some would say). Instead he would say that they are, “lowing in the field.”

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
The Astro-Man offline Verified User (12 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Undisclosed Location | 7 months, 1 week ago (21 hours, 22 minutes after post)

To be honest, I have no idea. The duck call may have something to do with hunting, but I don’t understand the lowing thing. I just blame it on the English language and move on, haha.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Help me with: Meh, I’m done.
Anonymous #
7 months, 1 week ago (1 day after post)

The Queens English at that.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
The Astro-Man offline Verified User (12 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Undisclosed Location | 7 months, 1 week ago (1 day, 1 hour after post)

Actually, I’m not English. I’m Canadian. I’m just studying here for the time being. But yeah, agreed.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Help me with: Meh, I’m done.
Anonymous #
7 months, 1 week ago (1 day, 9 hours after post)

Astro-Man wrote:
Actually, I’m not English. I’m Canadian. I’m just studying here for the time being. But yeah, agreed.

Oh, well! We both speak the same language! I am third generation Canuck as well. Ever fish at Lake Nipigon? How aboot Barbara or Georgia Lake? How aboot MacDermaid or Beardmore? They are all in Northwestern Ontario. Been there, did that.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
The Astro-Man offline Verified User (12 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Undisclosed Location | 7 months, 1 week ago (1 day, 18 hours after post)

Anonymous wrote:

Astro-Man wrote:
Actually, I’m not English. I’m Canadian. I’m just studying here for the time being. But yeah, agreed.

Oh, well! We both speak the same language! I am third generation Canuck as well. Ever fish at Lake Nipigon? How aboot Barbara or Georgia Lake? How aboot MacDermaid or Beardmore? They are all in Northwestern Ontario. Been there, did that.

No, can’t say I have, as I’m from Toronto and have only gone so far north as Peterborough. That, and I’m not too into fishing to be perfectly honest, haha.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Help me with: Meh, I’m done.

Invite Others to Help

A logged in and verified Help.com member has the ability to setup a Friends List and invite others to help with posts.