blowing wind: The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free ... (S.T. Coleridge) The above example shows that alliteration may become onomatopoetic in quality. Consider also the following instance: Welling water's winsome word, Wind in warm wan weather .. (S.T.Coleridge) Another function of alliteration lies in connecting words by similarity of sound so that you are made to think of their possible connections: Good-bye, to Flattery's fawning face; To Grandeur with his wise grimace ..(Emerson) There have been attempts to define the expressive value of separate sounds. It has been noted, for instance, that the sounds l, m, n suggest slowness and peacefulness. An exhaustive study of consonants and some consonant clusters has been conducted by Marjorie Boulton who claims the following: B and p suggest quickness, movement, triviality, scorn; M, n, ng provide various effects of humming, singing, music, occasionally sinister
HAMLET What ho! Horatio! Enter HORATIO HORATIO Here, sweet lord, at your service. HAMLET Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man As e'er my conversation coped withal. HORATIO O, my dear lord,— HAMLET Nay, do not think I flatter; For what advancement may I hope from thee That no revenue hast but thy good spirits, To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd? No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear? Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice And could of men distinguish, her election Hath seal'd thee for herself; for thou hast been As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing, A man that fortune's buffets and rewards Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled, That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger To sound what stop she please. Give me that man That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
annaabi.ee 
