|
|
|
Onomatopoeic Verbs
A very ancient and
indigenous feature of Tibetan verse, that is found even in the documents from Tun Huang, but has continued in Buddhist verse
down to the present day is what might be called the “onomatopoeic verb”. R.A. Stein says: No systematic study
has been devoted to this very engaging form of poetic expression, and we know nothing of the associations of ideas that determined
the use of a given expression for various situations. […] Thus kyi-li-li is used for a woman’s glance,
the rainbow and lightning, kyu-ru-ru for laughing or songs, khyi-li-li for a squall and for heaving waves,
khra-la-la for the sound of hooves, tha-ra-ra for ‘clouds’ of assembled warriors and the black
poison, me-re-re for a thick crowd, the ocean, stars (the crowd of stars, no doubt) and so forth. You might find it necessary
to keep your own lists, but here are some I have collected: kyi li li to shine brightly (like the sun) (of rainbows or lightning) kyu ru ru to hum and chant; to echo eerily (of birds); the sound of laughter khor ma khor
to rotate, wheel (of clouds) khor ro ro to buzz ?? (of bees) khyi li li rolling of waves khyugs se
khyug to strike khra la la to dangle and sway; sound of hooves khrabs se
khrab to stomp about in a dance khro lo lo to chime and tinkle, rattle (of bones) gya ma gyu to flow? (of a river) rga ra ra to glow vividly (like the moon) chi li li ? (of fragrant flowers) nyi li li to glow ti ri ri ? tha ra ra to gather noisily (of an assembly of warriors), the rolling of clouds or waters thibs se
thib to gather in throngs, or gather thickly (of clouds or mist), to swarm thu lu lu to waft (of incense) di ri ri to resound, rattle (of thunder), to peal out (whistle), to reverberate ‘du
ru ru to gather and flow (like a river) ldems se
ldem to gather and swing, shift and move pu ru ru to tumble and wave (of hair); sound of trotting horses; to fly and flutter (flags) pyo la la to splash (of water) ban ma bun to bend and sway (of grass) brengs se
breng to strike again and again (bow strings) me re re to gather and swirl (like the ocean); murmur of a crowd, roar of waves ‘u
ru ru to roar, crash, rumble (music and cymbals) ya la la to sparkle (of smiles) yengs se
yeng to float and flap (of flags) rol lo lo to charge forward lang ma ling to soar (of an eagle) lam se lam to sparkle brilliantly (like stars) sha ra ra to appear in an endless stream, to advance in procession shigs se
shig to whirl about in dance; to rustle (of long hair), to swirl sangs se
sang to utter fiercely (of wrathful mantras) si li li to shower down (like rain), to jingle (of ornaments), clatter hu ru ru to gasp (in wonder, horror, or confusion) lhabs se
lhabs to flutter to and fro (of flags) Further Reading The Classical Tibetan Language,
Stephan V. Beyer, pp.148-152 |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
