Many languages are rife with onomatopoeic words—every animal sound from “bow-wow” to “moo” to “ribbit” is a form of onomatopoeia, as is the “tick-tock” of a clock, the “ding-dong” of a doorbell, a beep, a zap, a hiccup, a hiss, and a cackle. Such words seem to have sound effects built in to them.