Language is one of humanity’s most fascinating inventions. Every day, we use thousands of words without stopping to think about why they mean what they do. Why does the English word “dog” refer to a dog? Why is water called “water” in English, “av” in Kurdish, and “mā’” in Arabic?

Linguists generally agree that the relationship between words and their meanings is mostly arbitrary. However, there is an interesting exception known as onomatopoeia. Understanding the difference between arbitrariness and onomatopoeia helps us appreciate how languages develop and why translation sometimes requires more than simply replacing words.

What Is Arbitrariness in Language?

Arbitrariness is the principle that there is usually no natural connection between a word’s form (its sound or spelling) and its meaning.

For example:

• Dog (English)
• سەگ(Kurdish)
• کلب(Arabic)
• Köpek (Turkish)

All of these words refer to the same animal, yet they sound completely different. There is nothing about the sound “dog” that naturally represents the animal itself. The connection exists only because speakers of English have agreed to use that word.

This principle was famously described by Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, who argued that linguistic signs are largely arbitrary. Languages evolve through social agreement rather than logical necessity.

What Is Onomatopoeia?

Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate or resemble natural sounds.

Examples include:

• Buzz
• Bang
• Splash
• Tick-tock
• Meow

Unlike most words, onomatopoeic expressions have a direct relationship with the sounds they represent. When we hear the word “buzz,” it resembles the sound made by a bee or an electrical device.

Because of this resemblance, onomatopoeia is often considered an exception to the principle of arbitrariness.

Are Onomatopoeic Words Universal?

Not exactly.

Even though onomatopoeic words imitate sounds, different languages represent those sounds differently.

For example, a rooster’s crow may be written as:

• Cock-a-doodle-doo (English)
• Kikirikî (Kurdish)
• Kukareku (Japanese)
• Quiquiriquí (Spanish)

The actual sound produced by the rooster is the same, but speakers of different languages perceive and represent it according to the sound patterns of their own language.

This demonstrates that even onomatopoeia contains elements of arbitrariness.

Why Does This Matter for Translation?

Understanding the distinction between arbitrariness and onomatopoeia is important for professional translators.

Translating Arbitrary Words

Most words can be translated by finding the equivalent term in the target language. Since the connection between form and meaning is arbitrary, translators focus on meaning rather than sound.

For example:

• Book → Pirtûk (Kurdish)
• House → Mal (Kurdish)

The sound changes completely, but the meaning remains the same.

Translating Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeic words require special attention because they often carry both meaning and sound effects.

Consider a comic book where a door closes with a “Bang!” Translating this into another language may require selecting a sound expression that feels natural to readers rather than translating the word literally.

This is particularly important in:

• Children’s literature
• Comics and graphic novels
• Marketing materials
• Film subtitles
• Creative writing

A skilled translator must recreate the effect, not merely the word.

The Gray Area Between the Two

Modern linguistics recognizes that the distinction between arbitrariness and sound symbolism is not always absolute.

Some words seem to have subtle connections between their sounds and meanings. For example, many languages use similar sounds in words related to smallness, softness, or brightness.

Research suggests that humans may naturally associate certain sounds with particular concepts, even across cultures. This phenomenon is known as sound symbolism.

Examples include:

• Tiny
• Mini
• Little

These words often contain high front vowel sounds that speakers tend to associate with small size.

Although such patterns do not overturn the principle of arbitrariness, they suggest that language may contain more sound-meaning relationships than previously believed.

Conclusion

Most words in human language are arbitrary, meaning there is no natural reason why a particular sequence of sounds represents a particular concept. Onomatopoeia, however, provides a fascinating exception by imitating real-world sounds.

For translators, understanding this distinction is essential. While arbitrary words can often be translated through semantic equivalence, onomatopoeic expressions require creativity and cultural awareness to preserve their impact.

At KurdBridge Translation Services, we understand that effective translation involves more than converting words from one language to another. It requires preserving meaning, tone, cultural context, and sometimes even sound itself.

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