What does the ghost say?
July 7, 2019 12:17 PM Subscribe
I usually hear that ghosts say "boo!" or "oooooooo" or sometimes people's names / phrases important to them. But are there other standard ghost sounds, like in different languages / cultures / time periods? I'm also good with hearing ghost languages that appear in fiction / movies /etc. But to be clear, I'm definitely seeking ghost languages and not just things individual ghosts say.
Rattling chains
posted by XMLicious at 1:58 PM on July 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by XMLicious at 1:58 PM on July 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
I’m the series of movies starting with Ju-On: The Grudge, ghosts make an extremely creepy death rattle sound. One exception is a child ghost who can speak his name in a gravelly croak and meow like the pet cat that was murdered with him. Another is a freshly murdered father trying to communicate with his daughter, seemingly unable to utter intelligible words. It gives the series a layer of horror that ghosts lose the ability to communicate except by perpetuating violence.
posted by ejs at 2:58 PM on July 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by ejs at 2:58 PM on July 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
You need this illustration by James Chapman!
posted by centrifugal at 9:55 PM on July 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by centrifugal at 9:55 PM on July 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
Ghost in English speaking Europe mostly say "wooooo woo" and rattle their chains. Why do they have chains? I have no idea.
Banshees (Bean sidhes) aren't really ghosts, they're fairies. And they keen.
posted by fshgrl at 12:01 AM on July 8, 2019
Banshees (Bean sidhes) aren't really ghosts, they're fairies. And they keen.
posted by fshgrl at 12:01 AM on July 8, 2019
Creepy kid filter: when my twin niece and nephew were about 3 they used to talk about a ghost who said "gah" that lived upstairs.
posted by emd3737 at 1:26 AM on July 8, 2019
posted by emd3737 at 1:26 AM on July 8, 2019
In Farsi ghosts say "Boo" as well but likely that's just language creep.
posted by Cosine at 9:51 AM on July 8, 2019
posted by Cosine at 9:51 AM on July 8, 2019
In the Bible, the angels typically say “Fear not!” Or “be not afraid!”
posted by dog-eared paperback at 7:51 PM on August 20, 2019
posted by dog-eared paperback at 7:51 PM on August 20, 2019
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posted by gin and biscuits at 12:43 PM on July 7, 2019 [3 favorites]