It’s hard to communicate exactly colors. If you’re speaking of black or red, you most likely would be understood. But what if you wish to communicate pale-yellow or grayish black colors?

However the verbalization of sounds is much more complicated.

In 1950, General Motors condensed the sounds of car trouble into seven types:

  • Rattle – A series of hard, sharp sounds in rapid succession, like a hard object being shaken around in a metal container. This noise usually indicates a loose or broken part striking against another.

  • Thump – A dull sound, generally made when a soft part strikes against a hard part. An example is the noise made by a deflated tire on the road.

  • Squeak – A sharp, shrill, piercing noise, generally made by two dry metal parts rubbing together. The sound may be sharp and erratic, or drawn out – a squeal. Lack of lubrication causes many squeaks.

  • Grind – This is a continuous crushing sound like a part being crushed between two revolving parts. Such a sound might come from the transmission.

  • Knock – This is a sharper and more distinct sound than a thump. It’s generally associated with a loose rod or crankshaft bearing. (Not to be confused with the "knock" or ping of a laboring engine.)

  • Scrape – A grating or harsh rubbing sound, often made by two pieces of material rubbing together. The sound of a dragging brake could be described as a scrape.

  • Hiss – This is like escaping air or steam or the sound of water on a hot metal part.

"Besides telling what the noise is, the driver is expected to report where it comes from and when it happened," explained Popular Science. "With this report, the mechanic has a good start toward learning why it happened."

 

via Popular Science