This almanac of sound words important to artists and scholars highlights words that expand the way we speak (and write) about sonic experiences.
Why write about sound, and how? If sonic philosophy is the attempt "to think about sound by philosophical means," then a metaphilosophical debate appears almost immediately on the horizon: What is called for is an understanding about sound and language, but also about the preconditions of musical understanding. What is at stake is the question of language and sound, as well as expanding how we speak about sonic experience.
This almanac tackles these questions from artistic, experimental and personal perspectives. An assemblage of nearly 70 practitioners and theoreticians, artists and scholars offer their favorite 'sound word.' These sound words are onomatopoetical, mythological, practical; words of personal importance to the artists and their craft; words from their memory, related to sound. Many entries are not in English - some are untranslatable - and all are accompanied by a personal, explanatory, poetic entry. These are words that have the potential to change our perspective on listening-musicking-thinking.
Delving into the intricate relationships between language, sound, and our capacity to verbalize sonic experiences, A Sound Word Almanac invites readers into a vibrant exploration of auditory terminology, affording a fresh perspective on sound. Transcending the confines of conventional lexicons, this almanac embarks on an original linguistic expedition, offering a recollection of rare, unfamiliar, and largely unknown words. Emphasizing artistic, experimental, and personal perspectives from different languages and cultural spaces, this book is both original and unique, creating a whole new research field. Like a terminological colourful kaleidoscope, A Sound Word Almanac is a great read that will revamp your relationship with sound and sonic events.