A Conversation for Ask h2g2
What's the origin of Ssssh !
swl Started conversation Apr 25, 2008
It seems to be a universal gesture, telling people to be quiet by putting the index finger verticall across pursed lips and letting out a hissing sound.
Why?
Where did this start? Has it got an origin?
What's the origin of Ssssh !
Just Bob aka Robert Thompson, plugging my film blog cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk Posted Apr 25, 2008
I'm not sure it is universal but, assuming it is, the gesture part is pretty obvious. The finger across the mouth symbolically 'bars' sounds from escaping through it.
What's the origin of Ssssh !
Deb Posted Apr 25, 2008
I've just been having a bit of a browse round t'internet and have found a couple of things.
One site mentions the Shhh sound being comforting to a crying baby as it mimics the sound they hear in the uterus. It gives some examples of words used in other languages, such as shuh-shuh in Chinese and teeshina in Slovenian.
http://www.acousticecology.org/asae/news.htm#shhh
The other thing I found is that the word whist is an old British equivalent of shhh, which doesn't answer the question but I think is quite interesting anyway.
Deb
What's the origin of Ssssh !
IctoanAWEWawi Posted Apr 25, 2008
"being comforting to a crying baby as it mimics the sound they hear in the uterus."
Ok, I may be betraying my lack knowledge about female anatomy, but exactly which part of the female body is it that goes 'shhh' whilst with child?
Perhaps it is some sort of internal gas pressure build up which ends with a loud 'POP' when the baby is born?
What's the origin of Ssssh !
KB Posted Apr 25, 2008
I suspect the Shhhh sound comes from the sound made by air being hissed out between the teeth in exasperation at unwanted noise.
What's the origin of Ssssh !
Traveller in Time Reporting Bugs -o-o- Broken the chain of Pliny -o-o- Hired Posted Apr 25, 2008
Traveller in Time ing
"Perhaps it is really the opposite of an alarm yell; keep quiet, hide. One of the basic sounds we started with. "
What's the origin of Ssssh !
kea ~ Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded but very well read blue and white website Posted Apr 26, 2008
Maternal blood flow has that shssshing sound.
What's the origin of Ssssh !
I'm not really here Posted Apr 26, 2008
I think the sound is just natural - I found myself doing it without thinking yesterday. To a dog. I was trying to teach him to relax with a bit of a massage. Didn't mean to do it, I was trying to say 'relax' but shhed him instead.
What's the origin of Ssssh !
Noggin the Nog Posted Apr 26, 2008
All blood flow has that ssshhhing sound. You can hear it in your ears sometimes.
Noggin
What's the origin of Ssssh !
pheloxi | is it time to wear a hat? | Posted Apr 26, 2008
ssssh is an onomatopoeia
onomatopoeia is the information and use of words. which sound like noise or thing that they are describing or representing.
source: a English Dictionary.
sound like fun word! try to get it in conversation without breaking your tongue!
some parts were previously posted in my journal F64198?thread=212957
What's the origin of Ssssh !
Just Bob aka Robert Thompson, plugging my film blog cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk Posted Apr 26, 2008
No, that doesn't work. "Shhh" doesn't actually sound _like_ silence, since it's a noise, so it can't be representing silence onomatopoeically. (Is that the right word?)
What's the origin of Ssssh !
Amy Pawloski, aka 'paper lady'--'Mufflewhump'?!? click here to find out... (ACE) Posted Jun 3, 2008
Well, if it's really really quiet, you can hear your own blood flow, maybe, if you have good hearing?
Key: Complain about this post
What's the origin of Ssssh !
- 1: swl (Apr 25, 2008)
- 2: Just Bob aka Robert Thompson, plugging my film blog cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk (Apr 25, 2008)
- 3: Deb (Apr 25, 2008)
- 4: IctoanAWEWawi (Apr 25, 2008)
- 5: KB (Apr 25, 2008)
- 6: Deb (Apr 25, 2008)
- 7: Traveller in Time Reporting Bugs -o-o- Broken the chain of Pliny -o-o- Hired (Apr 25, 2008)
- 8: kea ~ Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded but very well read blue and white website (Apr 26, 2008)
- 9: KB (Apr 26, 2008)
- 10: I'm not really here (Apr 26, 2008)
- 11: Noggin the Nog (Apr 26, 2008)
- 12: pheloxi | is it time to wear a hat? | (Apr 26, 2008)
- 13: Just Bob aka Robert Thompson, plugging my film blog cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk (Apr 26, 2008)
- 14: Amy Pawloski, aka 'paper lady'--'Mufflewhump'?!? click here to find out... (ACE) (Jun 3, 2008)
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