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Crash Bang Wallop: The Sound of Words

Michael Rosen and Dr Catherine Laing discuss onomatopoeia and other words that sound like their meanings. Produced by Becky Ripley.

Michael Rosen is joined by linguist Dr Catherine Laing to discuss onomatopoeia and other words that sound like their meanings. Not just words for sounds like 'crash' and 'bang', or words for animal noises like 'woof' and 'quack', but also other words which perhaps hold something of their meaning within their form. Is there something rough about the word 'rough'? Does 'smooth' feel smooth? And how can we play with this in everyday speech and in poetry?

Produced by Becky Ripley, in partnership with the Open University.

28 minutes

On radio

Thursday 15:30
蜜芽传媒 Radio 4

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  • Thursday 15:30
    蜜芽传媒 Radio 4
  • Next Sunday 20:00
    蜜芽传媒 Radio 4

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