Onomationary - Support Information

Overview

Onomationary is a multilingual educational tool that teaches how different sounds are represented across cultures and languages. The app features onomatopoeia (sound words) from animals, objects, and actions in multiple languages, helping users discover the fascinating differences in how we interpret and express sounds around the world.

What is Onomatopoeia?

Onomatopoeia refers to words that phonetically imitate the sound they represent. While we might think sounds are universal, different cultures hear and express them quite differently. For example, a dog’s bark is “woof” in English, “guau” in Spanish, “wuff” in German, and “wan wan” in Japanese.

Supported Languages

The app currently supports six languages:

• English (English)
• German (Deutsch)
• Spanish (Español)
• French (Français)
• Japanese (日本語)
• Ukrainian (Українська)

How to Use the App

Navigation

• Swipe left/right or use the tab indicators at the bottom to browse different sound categories
• Tap the globe icon in the top-right corner to change your primary language
• Tap anywhere on the main screen to hear the sound in your selected language

Sound Categories

The app includes various categories:

• Animals: Ambulance, Dog, Pig, Chicken, Rooster
• Actions: Eating, Knocking, Snoring
• Objects: Car horn, Door knock
• Expressions: Pain sounds

Playing Sounds

• Main Sound: Tap the large emoji area to play the sound in your selected language
• Other Languages: Scroll down to see how the same sound is expressed in other languages
• Audio Available: Look for the play button icon - some sounds have actual audio recordings
• No Audio: Sounds marked with an X show only the written onomatopoeia

Recording Your Own Sounds

You can add your own voice recordings for any sound category:

1. Start Recording: Tap “Record Your Own” or “Record New” button
2. Recording: Speak into your device’s microphone while the red recording indicator is active
3. Stop Recording: Tap “Stop Recording” when finished
4. Name Your Recording: Give your recording a descriptive name
5. Save: Your recording will appear as “Your Recording” and can be played anytime

Managing Recordings

• Play: Tap your saved recording to hear it
• Delete: Long-press your recording and select “Delete Recording”
• Re-record: Tap “Record New” to replace your existing recording

Language Selection

Changing Languages

1. Tap the globe icon in the top-right corner
2. Select your preferred language from the menu
3. The interface and primary sound will update to your selection

Language Display

Languages are shown in two formats:

• Translated name: How the language is called in your current language
• Native name: How the language is written in its own script

Features

Visual Design

• Color-coded categories: Each sound category has its own color scheme
• Animated interactions: Sounds pulse and animate when played
• Cultural context: See how different cultures interpret the same sounds

Educational Value

• Language learning: Discover pronunciation patterns across languages
• Cultural awareness: Understand how sound perception varies globally
• Phonetic exploration: Compare similar sounds across different linguistic families

Troubleshooting

Audio Issues

• No sound playing: Check your device volume and ensure the app has microphone permissions
• Recording not working: Verify microphone permissions in device settings
• Audio quality poor: Record in a quiet environment closer to your device’s microphone

Navigation Problems

• Stuck on one category: Try swiping left or right, or tap the tab indicators at the bottom
• Language not changing: Ensure you’ve selected a language from the globe menu
• Interface not updating: Close and reopen the app

Recording Issues

• Cannot start recording: Check microphone permissions in Settings > Privacy > Microphone
• Recording automatically stops: Ensure adequate storage space on your device
• Cannot save recording: Verify the app has storage permissions

Performance Issues

• App running slowly: Close other apps and restart the Sounds app
• Animations stuttering: Restart your device if performance issues persist

Permissions Required

Microphone Access

Required for recording your own sound interpretations. You can use the app without this permission but won’t be able to create custom recordings.

Storage Access

Needed to save your custom recordings locally on your device.

Privacy and Data

• Local storage only: All recordings are stored locally on your device
• No data collection: The app doesn’t collect or transmit personal information
• No internet required: Core functionality works completely offline
• Your recordings: Only you can access recordings you create

Educational Context

This app is designed for:

• Language learners: Understanding phonetic differences across languages
• Children: Learning about sounds and cultural diversity
• Linguistics students: Exploring onomatopoeia across language families
• Cultural education: Discovering how different cultures interpret sounds
• Family fun: Comparing how family members from different backgrounds express sounds

Tips for Best Experience

Recording Quality

• Record in a quiet environment
• Hold device close to your mouth
• Speak clearly and at normal volume
• Keep recordings under 10 seconds for best results

Learning Approach

• Compare similar sounds across languages you know
• Notice patterns in how languages handle different types of sounds
• Try to understand the cultural logic behind different interpretations
• Practice pronunciation of sounds in languages you’re learning

Technical Requirements

• iOS/iPadOS device with microphone
• Sufficient storage space for audio recordings
• Compatible with iOS [version] or later

Version History

Current version includes:

• Multi-language onomatopoeia database
• Custom recording functionality
• Swipe navigation between categories
• Visual animations and feedback
• Offline functionality

Support and Feedback

For technical issues, feature requests, or to suggest new languages or sound categories, please contact our support team through the app settings or visit our website.

Acknowledgments

This app celebrates the diversity of human language and sound interpretation. Special thanks to native speakers who contributed authentic onomatopoeia examples from their cultures and languages.