Meanings
nounechoism (countable and uncountable, plural echoisms)
plural echoisms
- countableuncountableThe practice of creating words or language by imitating sounds from the environment.
That is the simple account of the motivation for the phenomenon of sound symbolism or echoism.
2011, Karl Bühler, Theory of Language: The Representational Function of Language1 more example
One possibility is that language developed from echoism, i.e. from attempts of early humans to imitate natural sounds and react vocally to emotions.
1999, Marcel Danesi, Paul Perron, Analyzing Cultures: An Introduction and Handbook, page 139
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
- Ancient Greekἠχώ (ēkhṓ)
- Latinēchō
- Medieval Latinēccō
- Middle Englisheccho
- Englishecho
- Englishechoism
Cite this entry
APA
echoism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/echoism
MLA
“echoism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/echoism. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “echoism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/echoism.
Source: echoism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.