Answer: Adding "Out" After a Vocalization

[traycer_]

starwatcher307 asked: Is it correct to add "out" after a vocalization? (i.e. "he hissed out", "he gasped out", etc.)

With examples from Harry Potter.

Comments

[lady_lirenel]

I'm thinking the added 'out' is a remnant from the Anglo-Saxon where there was a slight difference between 'sendan' and 'onsenden'. They added the prefix in order to make a slight change in meaning. I think we tend to add words to give a slight difference in meaning as well, we just don't add them as prefices.

Or I could be completely wrong. Not quite awake yet.

[starwatcher307]

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a remnant from the Anglo-Saxon where there was a slight difference between 'sendan' and 'onsenden'.

Cool! I wasn't aware of that structure.

I think we tend to add words to give a slight difference in meaning as well,

I can see it in some instances -- the difference between 'cried' and 'cried out' that sidlj mentioned. But if there's a difference between 'shouted' and 'shouted out', it's too slight for me to notice. Perhaps there's a regional variation and/or meaning that others might not recognize.
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[lady_lirenel]

Yah, it works for some words more than others. It could be that there used to be a bigger difference and it's just faded over time. Of course, depending on the sentence "shouted out" could work: like if they're talking about a "shout out" to someone over the radio or something.

And sometimes "out" makes the sentence a little more poetical:

Harry looked over the lake.
Harry looked out over the lake.

I think it just depends on the word and the sentence structure.

[traycer_]

We don't want to take the word 'out' totally out of the English language! We need it when taking out the trash and holding out for a bigger raise, and yeah, even when Harry is looking out over the lake. :) We just don't need it in terms of describing how something was said.

Also, 'shouted out' is not the same as the term 'shout out', at least not in my mind. 'Shout out' is a greeting, whereas 'shouted out' is an action, which again, should not be used as a way to describe vocalization. That'd be like saying 'hello' is the same as 'helloed' (is that even a word?). *g*

So yeah, I'm thinking that 'shouted out' would not work no matter how it's used as a dialogue tool.

[lady_lirenel]

I suppose you're right, Of course, my Study of Language teacher was a linguist, not an English teacher. Apparently linguists are of the opinion that anything can be made a word if you add the correct ending, even if it isn't traditionally a word. Like googling or something like that.

[traycer_]

I think the reason why the difference is slight, is because we are used to hearing this in our everyday language. 'One and the same', 'the end result' and 'basic necessities' are all redundant phrases that sound okay to me, and I know I've used them in the past. And because these phrases are familiar, the tendency to believe they are correct goes without saying. Basically, if everybody else is saying it, then it must be okay. But it's not okay as far as grammar rules are concerned. And grammar is what holds together a well-written story.

Perhaps there's a regional variation and/or meaning that others might not recognize.

I'd definitely be interested in hearing the results of this! :)

[traycer_]

History of language! My favorite subject. :)

This sounds plausible, and is a great reference as to why we add on extra words. Not that we are correct in adding those words, but it's nice to know how we got to this point. *bounces happily* Thanks for this!!

[lady_lirenel]

You're welcome! I love trying to figure out how words came to be as they are now.