Kathleen,
	These are all evocative terms.  Words tend to be either mimetic or  
metaphoric.  One uses sound evocatively; the other, an image.   
Mimetic words can replicate sounds, in which case they are  
onomatopoetic, or they can use sound to replicate an action, like  
"press" or "push" or "pull."  Almost all words ending with "-ash" do  
this.  Words beginning with "st-" usually signify a lack of movement,  
staying or sticking to one place.  The "str-" strains to stretch away  
from that sticking point, which takes some strength.  The term  
"snicker-snack" seems more of a sound than a word having meaning on  
its own.  Like "chortle," it could evoke a sound while inventing a  
meaning. Still, it is an example of the pow-er of words.  Good that  
you have one that raises questions.
		Gregg

On Nov 25, 2007, at 10:32 AM, Kathi Bethell wrote:

> The question of onomotopoeia came up in a class discussion this  
> past week.  A student questioned the form class of “Snicker- 
> snack” (as in “the vorpal blade went snicker-snack!”). We moved on  
> to animal sounds, comic book sound effects (Pow! Zap! Kerplunk!)  
> and thoroughly amused and confused ourselves.
>
> The cow says “moo.”
> The mooing cows moved toward the barn.
> The cow smiled mooily (okay, we were goofing off by then).
>
> It’s easy to identify the verbs, adjectives, adverbs – but what are  
> the onomotopoetic words themselves? Although moo can be a noun (the  
> cow had a loud moo), what is snicker-snack?
>
> Kathleen Bethell
>
>
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