Re: Onomatopoeic Bird Names (was: ka and k^a)

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Wordingham"
<richard.wordingham@...> wrote:

> I think not - _owl_, _peewit_ 'lapwing' and _cuckoo_ immediately come
> to mind. A little more thought yields the family of 'crow' words,
> even if the onomatopeia has vanished in _raven_. On a larger scale, I
> don't think the non-avian words _bow-wow_ 'dog' and choo-choo 'steam
> enginge/train' (as in the 'Chattanooga choo-choo') are due to
> non-familiarity. I think the words for 'owl' and 'cuckoo' have a
> general tendency to be onomatopeoic, as birds that are heard rather
> than seen.

Hmm, I wasn't aware that "owl" was an onomatopoeic word. "Cuckoo" is
certainly one, though. I've never heard of a dog called a "bow-
wow". :p Still, I understand your point and think you're right.
Onomatopoeic words are rather unpredictable, then.

- Rob