Alliteratio, onomatopoeia and imitative harmony: differentiation and conceptual frontiers
Abstract
Our aim in the following pages is to clarify the confusion existing between the concepts of alliteration, onomatopoeia and imitative harmony, which are currently used without rigour. In fact, the differences between onomatopoeia and imitative harmony have now become dimmed (and blurred). They have been reduced to the category of function, having become specific manifestations of alliteration, a resource to which an iconic/expressive purpose has been wrongly attributed.
The incorrect synonymy between alliteration, onomatopoeia and imitative harmony is also reflected in practice, where it is possible to observe the indiscriminate use of the three terms. An important factor to take into account in the incorrect identification of these techniques is the subjectivity of scholars, who, in our view, tend to attribute an iconic/expressive value to purely rhythmic sound repetitions. Given this, we call for rigour and objectivity from scholars to avoid confusions of this type
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