Paralinguistic grunts

Dan Sulani scripsit:

>     But since you mention "non-language noises", it is well known
> that cries of pain, what it seems only common sense to think of as
> non-linguistic or pre-linguistic "noises", are actually language specific
> and pretty basic. American English speakers say "ouch"
> or "ow" (= /au/, not /ou/). People who speak other langs might say,
> under similar conditions, /ai/, /oi/, or some other sound.
Which is why Lojban has lots of short, vowel-rich words for expressing
emotions, such as /ji/ for fear ("Eek!"), /wE/ for surprise ("Huh??"),
and of course /oj/ for pain/complaint (etymology obvious).


--
John Cowan                                   cowan@ccil.org
One art/there is/no less/no more/All things/to do/with sparks/galore
        --Douglas Hofstadter