Words that fit their meaning

[HeinekenClock]

I thought about posting this in General, but I thought it would be more fitting for this forum considering this centers around language and this seemed more fitting. I could, of course, be wrong.

I was just reading an article on Cracked that was about jellyfish, then I looked up jellyfish on wikipedia because 90% of my time is spent aimlessly wandering on the internet to learn things that are irrelevant to me. The wikipedia page said some people have started calling jellyfish simply jellies or sea jellies because jellyfish is a misnomer, considering they're not even vertebrates, let alone fish. Then I thought the Dutch word for jellyfish is absolutely perfect for these things:

Kwal.

Picture yourself seeing a jellyfish for the first time ever, what name do you give it? To me, kwal comes pretty damn close.

A while ago I posted a Dutch dish in the cooking forum and it was a lumpy, green pea soup with lots of meat called snert. To which buttplug said:

Snert: the only food that looks exactly like it sounds

This might seem like a lame topic but I have an affinity with words that just sound right for the thing they're describing.

[DWARFINATORclock]

i wouldnt call it kwal

[HookshotClock]

Then you would have to go out of your way to define jelly.  Words exist for the sake of universal understanding, so why become technical regarding a definition that is understood by everyone already?

[pop-tart]

Are you on crack or something?


Are you talking about onomatopoeias in general... or only if pertaining to ocean creatures?

[HeinekenClock]

I'm not talking about onomatopoeias at all. Since when does a jellyfish make a sound? I'm talking about the rare few words that describe almost flawlessly when they mean. Words like "Monitor" or "Mouse", when pertaining to the electronic devices, hardly conjure up an image that comes near to what they mean (when I hear monitor, I think someone who monitors, not a screen).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_symbolism

[DWARFINATORclock]

heinekenclock fits you perfectly cause heineken is a shit beer and you are a shit person.

[MSPaintClock]

When I see myself in the mirror I think sexy man lady killer

[Topcatyo]

i'd call a jellyfish "fleem"

[TelephoneClock]

I think a jellyfish is more of a "flob," personally.

[DWARFINATORclock]

i'd call a jellyfish "fleem"

I think a jellyfish is more of a "flob," personally.

youre not allowed to say that, if you disagree with heineken about the word "kwal" hell get mad and say youre a troll

[AlbinoClock]

Is kwal dutch or something?

[FLOUNDERMAN_CLOCK]

Cmon dwarfinator just let the kid have his thread.

[DWARFINATORclock]

Is kwal dutch or something?

yes

Cmon dwarfinator just let the kid have his thread.

why

[Slurpee]

regurgitate

[PowerGloveClock]

regurgitate

i'm watching QI right now

[Sombra]

I think Heineken is onto a real phenomenon although he may not have explained it perfectly. There's definitely some cross-cultural evidence showing that humans have a similarity in describing certain things, physically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouba/kiki_effect

Short version: giving "sharp" looking objects a name with "sharp" consonants like k as in "key" while "soft" looking objects are named with "soft" consonants like b as in "blue"

[Sombra]

I think Heineken is onto a real phenomenon although he may not have explained it perfectly. There's definitely some cross-cultural evidence showing that humans have a similarity in describing certain things, physically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouba/kiki_effect

Short version: giving "sharp" looking objects a name with "sharp" consonants like k as in "key" while "soft" looking objects are named with "soft" consonants like b as in "blue"

Although I see the similarities with the Dutch dish apparently called "snert" and the English slang word for mucus being "snot," I'd argue that it's more of a subconscious linking between the two than any inherent naming type of thing.

Snot comes from Old English "gesnot" which means nasal mucus, and "snite" which means to pick one's nose. Also the proto-Germanic "snuttan" which apparently means snout.

[Topcatyo]

the word rot sounds like what it means

[buttplug]

I would call jellyfish fwoop because that is how they move through water

[GearBoxClock]

Mutant/Mutate is pretty fitting, all things considered