EnglishLearner88  +  560757 Sun, 31 Aug 08 04:28 PM Hello, I only know how to write these three sounds: um or umm (is "uhm" possible?) - used to express doubt or uncertainty or to fill a pause when hesitating in speaking. aha! - used to express surprise, pleasure, or triumph. yahoo! - this one is obvious as it was even trademarked by a big website/company. although... I just looked up and found only this about "yahoo": "a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture" So, is "yahoo!" not a sound to express joy?? (I once read about Yahoo, the company, that it was how the trademarked name has been created?? So, please, I'd like to know, how to actually write all possible non-word sounds in English correctly. I mean, I know, there is often more than just one version. e.g. "um" could be also written as "umm" or "ummm" depending on how long the thinker needs to complete a thought.. but if possible I'd like to know ALL possible "words" for such sounds that people pronounce when talking to their bodies on the street.(along with the meaning of those "non-words") thanks! BTW: great forum here! EnglishLearner88 Joined on Sun, Aug 31 2008 New Member 05

	Philip  +  561142 Mon, 01 Sep 08 04:46 PM Related topic that is lots of fun:  animal sounds as expressed in various languages. http://www.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/Personal/dabbott/animal.html Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,733 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

	nyneve  +  562547 Thu, 04 Sep 08 08:17 PM Here is a website I think you will find quite enjoyable. http://www.writtensound.com/ P.S.  "Yahoo" can be used to describe someone; however, I don't believe it's been used in that form for some time.  You can also write "woohoo!" or "whippie!" to express joy. nyneve Joined on Thu, Sep 4 2008 New Member 05

	Tanit  +  562558 Thu, 04 Sep 08 08:53 PM Welcome to the forums, Nyneve, and thanks for sharing that website. Lots of interesting "sounds" Tanit Joined on Mon, Jul 31 2006 Senior Member 3,031 There is no greater pain than to remember a happy time when one is in misery. (Dante)

	Clive  +  562569 Thu, 04 Sep 08 09:32 PM Hi, Here's a comment on writing 'laughter'. The standard way in English is 'ha ha ha ha'. I've noticed that many non-natives on the Forum write this as 'he he he he'. This always seems a little imappropriate to me, because that's the way we sometimes write 'sniggering', ie unpleasant laughter. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,594 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

	EnglishLearner88  +  562570 Thu, 04 Sep 08 09:35 PM @nyneve whippie!!! Thank you soo much! that is a GREAT website and is exactly what I was looking for!!! Yesterday I found out, that such sounds are very often written in comic books! so, I was thinking about buying a few comic books for that but that website is so much better. THANKS A LOT! EnglishLearner88

	EnglishLearner88  +  562573 Thu, 04 Sep 08 09:44 PM This is a bit OT, but the sentence "I was writing laughter" is probably incorrect, right? Would it be correct to write: "I had been writting..." ?? (If want to express that it is about my writings in the past) EnglishLearner88

	Clive  +  562594 Thu, 04 Sep 08 10:46 PM Hi, I was writing . . . is OK. But if you want to use a Perfect tense, say I have been writing . . . Best wishes, Clive Clive Tenses