The imitation of
natural sounds in various cultures is a diverse phenomenon and can fill in various functions. In several instances, it is related to the belief system (
yoiks of the
Sami
Acronyms
* SAMI, ''Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange'', a closed-captioning format developed by Microsoft
* Saudi Arabian Military Industries, a government-owned defence company
* South African Malaria Initiative, a virtual expertise net ...
,
[Szomjas-Schiffert 1996: 56, 76][Szomjas-Schiffert 1996: 64][Somby 1995](_blank)
[Szomjas-Schiffert 1996: 74] some other shamanic songs and rituals,
[Diószegi 1960: 203][Hoppál 2005: 92]
/ref> overtone singing
Overtone singing – also known as overtone chanting, harmonic singing, polyphonic overtone singing, and diphonic singing – is a set of singing techniques in which the vocalist manipulates the resonances of the vocal tract, in order to arous ...
of some cultures). It may serve also such practical goals as luring in the hunt;Inuit
Inuit (; iu, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ 'the people', singular: Inuk, , dual: Inuuk, ) are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, ...
).Altai-Sayan region
The Altai-Sayan region is an area of Inner Asia proximate to the Altai Mountains and the Sayan Mountains, near to where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together. This region is one of the world centers of temperate plant diversity. ...
, including Tofa, the ability to mimic sounds of the environment includes hunting calls, and is present also in a traditional singing tradition preserved only by some old people.
Fields
Shamanism
Shamanism
Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a Spirit world (Spiritualism), spirit world through Altered state of consciousness, altered states of consciousness, such as tranc ...
in various cultures shows great diversity.[Hoppál 2005: 15] In some cultures, the music or songs related to shamanistic practice may mimic natural sounds, sometimes with onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Such a word itself is also called an onomatopoeia. Common onomatopoeias include animal noises such as ''oink'', '' ...
.[ Hoppál 2006: 143]
Entertainment
The intention to mimic natural sounds is not necessarily linked to shamanistic beliefs or practice alone. Katajjaq (a "genre" of music of some Inuit groups) is a game played by women, for entertainment. In some instances, natural sounds (mostly those of animals, e.g. geese) are imitated.[Nattiez: 5][Deschênes 2002]
/ref>
Luring animals
The kind of katajjaq mentioned above, which mimics the cry of geese, shows some similarities with the practice of the hunters to lure game.[
Some Inuit used a tool (shaped like a claw) to scratch the ice of the frozen sea in order to attract seals.][Birket-Smith 1969: 127]
See also
* Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Such a word itself is also called an onomatopoeia. Common onomatopoeias include animal noises such as ''oink'', '' ...
* Prehistoric music
Prehistoric music (previously called primitive music) is a term in the history of music for all music produced in preliterate cultures (prehistory), beginning somewhere in very late geological history. Prehistoric music is followed by ancient musi ...
* Vocal learning
* Pishing
A pish is an imitated bird call (usually a scold or alarm call) used by birders and ornithologists to attract birds (generally passerines). The action of making the sound is known as pishing or spishing. This technique is used by scientists to i ...
- imitation of bird sounds by birdwatchers
Notes
References
* Translation of the original:
*
*
* The book has been translated to English:
* The title means “Shamans in Eurasia”, the book is published also in German, Estonian and Finnish
Site of publisher with short description on the book (in Hungarian)
*
*
* . The songs ar
from the ethnopoetics website curated by Jerome Rothenberg
Jerome Rothenberg (born December 11, 1931) is an American poet, translator and anthologist, noted for his work in the fields of ethnopoetics and performance poetry.
Early life and education
Jerome Rothenberg was born and raised in New Yor ...
.
*
*
* The title means: “The magic drum and the clairvoyant women. Sami folktales”, the series means: “Tales of folks”.
External links
*
*
* {{cite web , last=Mamcheva , first=Natalia , title=Aspects of the Music of the Nivkhs , work=Pacific Rim Music Festival, Ancient Sakhalin in Music, Song and Dance , year=2004 , publisher=Ensemble XXI , url=http://www.ensemblexxi.org/nivkh_music.htm Translated from Russian by Lygia O'Riordan.
Semiotics
Zoomusicology
Ethnomusicology
Onomatopoeia
Phonaesthetics