A Study on the Value of Onomatopoeia in Children’s poetry based on “Kumara Gee”, by Kumarathunga Munidasa

Abstract

Onomatopoeia refers to the use of words which are formed to sound like the noise of what is described or presented. This differs from traditional sound devices, but is related to dhvani. According to linguistics, the history of onomatopoeia starts with languages. Onomatopoeia in children’s poetry is very important for children who are learning about their environment. This language system can be seen in Sri Lankan and other lullabies: For example, Bakamuno hum hum, Koravakka kuvakh kuvakh, Kaputu kak kak kak etc. This research explores the importance of onomatopoeia in children’s poetry. The study focuses on Kumara Gee Ethulu Lama Pedi, written by Kumarathunga Munidasa. There are about 12 poems with onomatopoeia. (1-4, 8, 9, 11-14, 23, 29) In many of the poems of this book, Kumarathunga uses the sounds of animals such as the crow, the calf, the cock, the cat, the dog, and the squirrel. He also uses the sounds of the clock and the wind. The two children’s games introduced in this book, the Cat’s Game and the Dog’s Game uses onomatopoeia. Kumarathunga also mimics the sound impression of rasa. In his poem Udaya(Morning) he says “Semen semen mal kekuluth thosin men” which is the same in the prosody of “Pujemi budhdham kusumenanena”, the gatha chanted when offering flowers to the Lord Buddha. Unu vedi yeyi hiruge res,a part of Nelavilla, uses the soundsres, les, kus, weses, which capture the sound of a hot iron ball dipped in water. It is a suitable dvani sound which gradually captures the feel of the sun coming out of the sea.