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Computer Sound Production: Istening

Michel Chion defined three modes of listening: causal listening involves determining the source of a sound, semantic listening focuses on understanding culturally coded sequences and components of sound, and reduced listening concentrates on the inherent qualities of a sound without considering its source or meaning. The document discusses each type of listening and provides examples to illustrate the differences between causal, semantic, and reduced listening.

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Trần Nhật Anh
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163 views7 pages

Computer Sound Production: Istening

Michel Chion defined three modes of listening: causal listening involves determining the source of a sound, semantic listening focuses on understanding culturally coded sequences and components of sound, and reduced listening concentrates on the inherent qualities of a sound without considering its source or meaning. The document discusses each type of listening and provides examples to illustrate the differences between causal, semantic, and reduced listening.

Uploaded by

Trần Nhật Anh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Computer Sound Production

COSC2190 | Computer Sound Production


Listening )))
..there is no sound, no noise, no
silence, even, without listening
Paul Hegarty
433 J ohn Cage [silence]
is a three-movement composition
by David Tudor (has seen in class)
COSC2190 | Computer Sound Production
Michel Chion has defined three modes of listening:
causal
semantic
reduced
http://helios.hampshire.edu/~hacu123/papers/chion.html
COSC2190 | Computer Sound Production
causal
in carrying out causal listening, we are "hearing"
the sound object in such a way that we can
determine the cause of the sound (source).
ie. the barking dog we hear is identified as the
neighbour's pet, the sudden cessation of the television
and air conditioner indicates a power failure, etc.
this is perhaps the easiest of Chions modes of
listening to grasp.
COSC2190 | Computer Sound Production
semantic
in semantic listening, we attend to the qualities
of components of the sound, and the way in
which the components are put together.
we understand this with reference to a culturally
determined code.
an obvious example would be our listening to a speech, which we
decode by reference to our understanding of language. A mechanic
might start a car, let it idle and warm up, and then rev the engine.
Any fluctuation from the "ideal" sequence of sounds that she or he
identifies can be read semantically, i.e. as part of a sequence of
signs that are ordered according to some understood code. In this
way the mechanic can "read" the sounds semantically in order to
"diagnose" the car's problem.
COSC2190 | Computer Sound Production
reduced, a term pioneered by Pierre Schaeffer.
in listening to a sound source in a reduced
manner, you are focusing on the sounds
themselves - not what they are, and not where
they come from. Yet, you are paying attention to
the sound. In doing so, you become aware of its
actual sound qualities - pitch, variation in
volume, timbre, position, etc..
reduced listening is a difficult concept. It is
reduced in that it is neither semantic or causal.
COSC2190 | Computer Sound Production
References
Chion, Michel: Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen, Columbia University
Press
COSC2190 | Computer Sound Production

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