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Full Version: Vocalization and Non-Word sounds in RP
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I have been looking for help on this subject. Ember, as a character, is much less familiar with the idea of 'language.' Something that I have been wanting to put more often into her emotes is vocalizations and sounds, that aren't words. These sounds, while intending to be animal-like, are meant to communicate basic emotions: sadness, agreeance, disagreeance, happiness, approval, frustration, etc. a person can express these things through sound. They don't even need words. My only problem is that there aren't very many words to describe these sounds.

I've tried googling several different words: vocalization, non-word vocals, onomatopoeia...

But nothing I google seems to help me out. Here is a small list of words I have gathered so far, to help you know what I am talking about:

Quote:Chirp
Coo
Huff
Moan
Groan
Growl
Grunt
Purr
Roar
Squeak
Snarl
Snort
Trill
Whine

So, yeah, not that many words. Does anyone else have any similar words that they could add? Or any lists that could help me out?

A friend managed to link me this one http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animal_sounds
It has been helpful but I am looking for more.
Hiss (displeasure, annoyance, pain)
Rumble (varies. One tone can be annoyance, precursor to a full-on growl. Another can be approval or a precursor to a laugh)
Chuff/puff (varies. One tone can be displeasure or to indicate tiredness. Another can be a type of quiet laughter)
Chitter/titter (varies. One tone can be nervousness or anxiety. Another can be excitement or a type of laughter)
Bay (excitement, an alarm)
Screech (pain, surprise/shock)
Yowl (pain, displeasure, anger)
Whimper (pain, fear)
Trumpet (an alarm)
Pant (tiredness, excitement, pain, fear... bunch of things)
Lol/lolling (not an actual sound, but a behaviour where the mouth opens, teeth remain mostly covered by lips, and the tongue is left relaxed. In canines, it's sometimes called 'canine laughter'. In humanoids it's silent laughter that doesn't bare teeth, as lips pulling back to expose teeth can be interpreted as a sign of aggression in animals)

If I think of more, I'll add them.
Tch (words added to meet minimum post length!)
Not sure if you've ran onto it already, but I ran onto this site. Maybe it could be some use? (EDIT: Blue beat me to posting that link. Hah.)

Here's a list of some stuff I grabbed from there as well as stuff I also randomly thought of:

Choke - Could be used for surprise? (any variation on "awk" "gak" etc)
Bark
"Blegh" - Intelligible disgust
Bleat - Whining or complaining loudly. (Or, literall, a sheep sound.)
Chortle - Laughter, often in a weird way.
Cough - Could be used for a whole range of things. (Alternative: hawk)
Croak - Another one for surprise/alarm/embarrassment.
Croon - Humming, singing, making a sing-song sound.
Crow - I could see this as yelling, nagging, complaining.
Gasp 
Grumble 
Guff - "Annoying or playful criticism"
Guffaw - "course, hearty, boisterous laughter, belly laugh."
Gurgle
Hiccup - Could be used for embarrassment, uncertainty
Lilt - A quiet or vague sound, sing-song
Shriek 
Squawk
Yap
Yelp
Simper - Definition: "An affectedly coquettish, coy, or ingratiating smile or gesture."
Wail
Warble
Snort
Scoff
snicker
bark
growl
snarl
hiss
burble
bubble
howl
squeak
whimper
whine

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