Words that make a sound

Listen to the story. Much of it is sound:

• the king roared;
• a murmur swept through the room;
• snickers rippled through the court;
• a hush fell over everything.

None of these is just 'said' or 'happened'. Each tells you how loud it was and what mood it had. Together they let you hear the court.

Sound words. They do not all mean the same thing:

• murmur: a low sound of many voices;
• mumble: to speak unclearly;
• whisper: to speak very quietly, for one person;
• roar: a loud, strong shout;
• gasp: a sharp breath in, from surprise;
• sigh: a long breath out, from relief or tiredness;
• groan: a low sound of effort or complaint;
• snickers: laughter people try to hold back;
• thud: a dull, heavy knock;
• rattle: a quick knocking, like a window in the wind.

So: 'Anaya sighed in relief.' A sigh, not a gasp, because relief makes you breathe out.

Expressions from the text. The story also uses whole phrases:

• his absence cast a shadow over the palace = made everyone sad and gloomy;
• a hush fell over the court = everyone went quiet;
• laughter rippled through the court = spread from person to person;
• he stormed off = left angrily;
• a murmur swept through the room = a low reaction spread through everyone at once;
• his mind raced back = he suddenly remembered something.

Notice what these share: shadows fall, water ripples, wind sweeps, storms break. The writer describes a room full of people as if it were weather. That is why the court feels alive.