I Can Still Hear “The Bells”

Onomatopoeia: 1. Formation of words in imitation of natural sounds (as buzz or hiss). 2. The use of words whose sound suggests the sense.
(Definition from The Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)

Onomatopoeia has been my favorite word for about twenty-five years now. I first learned this word as a sophomore in high school, when we were studying Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Bells.” Very few snippets of poetry have stuck in my head over the years, and this is one of them:

To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells—
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.

Please understand, I’m not saying “The Bells” is my favorite poem, but it is the only poem that has ever given me an earworm. It’s a poem you need to recite if you want the full effect. I can still hear my tenth-grade English teacher gleefully saying “tintinnabulation” and “the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.” (Hint: If you want to know if your new friend or blind date is a word nerd, just say “tintinnabulation” over dinner. If your companion picks up and begins reciting “The Bells,” you’ve got a winner. If he or she stares at you like you’re insane, you may want to skip dessert and ask for the check.)

“The Bells,” with all its sound-words, is perfect for introducing onomatopoeia. It’s almost as if Edgar decided very deliberately to write a piece that would fit under the heading “Onomatopoeia” in English textbooks.

But none of that explains why onomatopoeia is my favorite word. It’s simple, really. Onomatopoeia has great mouth feel. All those O’s rolling over your tongue—what fun! Go on, say it out loud. Tintinnabulation is fun too, but it’s a little too “tinkly” for my taste.

Consider this a reminder that English shouldn’t always be taken seriously. Words can be building blocks, but they can also be playthings. Take some time to play today.