Is huh a universal word? (2013)

would make sense also like a natural gruntish with expresses something. mah or ma is another one and a lot of times the first word which has had quite a bit of study in of itself.

Re: Is huh a universal word? (2013)

#6

Post by gerdesj » Mon, Feb 11, 2019, 12:43 AM UTC

No.

Re: Is huh a universal word? (2013)

#7

Post by packet_nerd » Mon, Feb 11, 2019, 12:52 AM UTC

They only studied 10 languages. That doesn't seem like enough to call it "universal".

What about those African languages made up of all clicking sounds?

Re: Is huh a universal word? (2013)

#8

Post by davidw » Mon, Feb 11, 2019, 1:01 AM UTC

Not all sounds like that are.

In Italy, instead of saying "I don't know", you can say "boh?" with the oooo sometimes drawn out. It's something you start to understand from the context, but is by no means some kind of universal sound.

Re: Is huh a universal word? (2013)

#9

Post by dominotw » Mon, Feb 11, 2019, 1:13 AM UTC

never heard of that till i moved to usa

Re: Is huh a universal word? (2013)

#10

Post by archgoon » Mon, Feb 11, 2019, 1:17 AM UTC

packet_nerd wrote: post #7

They only studied 10 languages. That doesn't seem like enough to call it "universal". What about those African languages made up of all clicking sounds?

> What about those African languages made up of all clicking sounds?

I am unaware of any African language, or any language in general, that only uses clicking sounds. Which one are you thinking of?