拟声法（Onomatopoeia）是英语语言学分支英语修辞学的重要修辞手法。和我们汉语的拟声词有相似之处。

拟声法(onomatopoeia) 它是指用词语模拟客观事物的声音,以增强讲话或文字的实际音感。Onomatopoeia(拟声法)--Using "sound" words. "Bang!" "Crunch" 。例如:

1、 模拟人声

murmur (咕哝), whisper (耳语声), giggle (咯咯笑声), hum (哼), ouch (哎呀), hush (嘘), chuckle (抿着嘴轻声地笑), mutter (轻声低语), en (嗯), hi (喂), chatter (唠叨), whoop (喘气声), babble (胡言乱语, 含糊不清地说)

2、 模拟家禽与飞鸟声

cock---crow, hen—cackle, chicken---cheep, duck---quack, goose---cackle, dove---coo, magpie---chatter, parrot---squawk, nightingale---jug.

3、 模拟兽类声

ass---bray, pig---grunt, sheep---baa, horse---neigh, lion---roar, cow---moo, dog---bark, fox---yelp, monkey---jabber, mouse---peep, tiger---growl, cat---mew, elephant---trumpet, wolf---bowl

4、 模拟昆虫及其他动物声音

bee---buzz, mosquito---hum, cicada---chirp, snake---hiss, cricket---chirp, frog---croak

5、 模拟机器、器具声音

click 喀嚓 (剪刀, 门, 按钮), clack 铿锵 (刀叉, 碗碟, 机器), clink 叮叮 (金属, 玻璃),

clank 叮当 (铁链, 刀枪), clang 发出铿锵声 (叮当声), rumble 轰隆声 (雷, 风, 炮, 车),

toot 嘟嘟 (火车, 汽车, 轮船), ticktack 嘀嗒 (钟表)

Nothing was heard but the voice of the master and the scratching of pens on paper.

On the way through the mountains to school, we can see the babbling water in the brook, hear the frogs croaking, cuckoo cuckooing, birds singing, sparrows chirping in the forest. All are lovely. My heart is banging in my ears. 在我耳中响着砰砰的心跳声。

When Miss Martha was reaching for bread there was a great tooting, a clanging, and a fire engine came rumbling past. The angry husband shut the door with a bang.

The drunken driver drove bang into the store window. 醉醺醺的司机开车砰地撞近商店的橱窗。

“Bang! Bang!” shouted the boys in imitation of gunfire.

Presently Ben Rogers came in sight. He was eating an apple, giving a long melodious whoop at intervals, followed by a deep-toned [低沉的] ding-dong-dong, ding-dong-dong, for he was personating a steamboat.

The ticking of the clock was the only sound that greeted him, for not a soul remained.【Hardy】

The metal tool clanged when it hit the wall. During his fever he babbled without stopping.

He babbled the secret out to his friends. 他向朋友们胡乱说话，泄漏了秘密。

He burbled on/ away (talked) for hours. The baby babbled (away/ on) for hours