Ribbit! (1965)

[Tom Kysilko]

Quoting Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>:

> The late appearance of "ribbit" may be compared with the earlier, but still
> surprisingly recent, appearance of  "quack," "honk," and "oink."

What interests me is that "ribbit" has attained this status as *the* answer to
the question "What does a frog say?" so recently.  When I was a child, I
learned from my mother and Captain Kangaroo that froggies went "garump".
"Greedeep" (or some spelling thereof) has also had considerable currency in my
lifetime.

It might be interesting to compare the various English translations of the frog
noise in Aristophanes, THE FROGS.  I believe Dudley Fitts used "Brekeke kesh"
or something similar.

--Tom Kysilko