An Analysis of English Onomatopoeia in Dog Man: Big Jim Begins Comic by Dav Pilkey

Onomatopoeia is the act of creating or using words that include sounds that are similar to the noises the words refer to. This research explores how onomatopoeia is used in Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, applying Körtvélyessy and Štekauer’s (2024) classification from Onomatopoeia in the World’s Languages. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, 87 examples were identified and grouped into water (5), air (11), mammals (2), body (26), vehicles (2), instruments of war and destruction (26), and mechanical and electronic equipment and devices (15). Body sounds and instruments of war and destruction were the most common. Results indicate that onomatopoeia significantly enhances the comic’s atmosphere, illustrates actions, and conveys character emotions, making the story more engaging and easier to follow. This detailed classification offers deeper insights into how sound effects strengthen storytelling in comics.