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Perspectives on soundscapes : Verb constructions in descriptions of everyday sounds

Tzimopoulou, Eleni LU orcid ; Hartman, Jenny LU ; van de Weijer, Joost LU orcid and Paradis, Carita LU orcid (2025) In Review of Cognitive Linguistics
Abstract

This study explores how listeners use verb constructions to describe everyday sounds. It considers (i) how the verb constructions provide Gestalt to events in the form of activities, processes and states, and (ii) how the constructions correspond to different aspects of a soundscape (sound sources, acoustic properties, and listener reactions). We found that verb constructions primarily describe sound sources and that these are portrayed as dynamic events. Acoustic properties were rarely described through verb constructions. When they were, the constructions primarily conveyed static properties of sound as in the sound is loud as opposed to dynamic events as in the sound comes closer. Listener reactions were primarily expressed through... (More)

This study explores how listeners use verb constructions to describe everyday sounds. It considers (i) how the verb constructions provide Gestalt to events in the form of activities, processes and states, and (ii) how the constructions correspond to different aspects of a soundscape (sound sources, acoustic properties, and listener reactions). We found that verb constructions primarily describe sound sources and that these are portrayed as dynamic events. Acoustic properties were rarely described through verb constructions. When they were, the constructions primarily conveyed static properties of sound as in the sound is loud as opposed to dynamic events as in the sound comes closer. Listener reactions were primarily expressed through comparative constructions such as it sounds like and justifications such as I can hear. The upshot of the study is that speakers conceptualise sounds according to highly dynamic Gestalts for which the main focus is the source of the sound.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
acousmatic sounds, auditory experiences, conceptual structures, event constructions, sound descriptions
in
Review of Cognitive Linguistics
pages
26 pages
publisher
John Benjamins Publishing Company
external identifiers
  • scopus:105017781391
ISSN
1877-9751
DOI
10.1075/rcl.00233.tzi
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © John Benjamins Publishing Company.
id
e6669d7e-da35-483c-8b5a-95546a6f5746
date added to LUP
2025-10-28 09:44:23
date last changed
2025-11-06 12:07:03
@article{e6669d7e-da35-483c-8b5a-95546a6f5746,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study explores how listeners use verb constructions to describe everyday sounds. It considers (i) how the verb constructions provide Gestalt to events in the form of activities, processes and states, and (ii) how the constructions correspond to different aspects of a soundscape (sound sources, acoustic properties, and listener reactions). We found that verb constructions primarily describe sound sources and that these are portrayed as dynamic events. Acoustic properties were rarely described through verb constructions. When they were, the constructions primarily conveyed static properties of sound as in the sound is loud as opposed to dynamic events as in the sound comes closer. Listener reactions were primarily expressed through comparative constructions such as it sounds like and justifications such as I can hear. The upshot of the study is that speakers conceptualise sounds according to highly dynamic Gestalts for which the main focus is the source of the sound.</p>}},
  author       = {{Tzimopoulou, Eleni and Hartman, Jenny and van de Weijer, Joost and Paradis, Carita}},
  issn         = {{1877-9751}},
  keywords     = {{acousmatic sounds; auditory experiences; conceptual structures; event constructions; sound descriptions}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{John Benjamins Publishing Company}},
  series       = {{Review of Cognitive Linguistics}},
  title        = {{Perspectives on soundscapes : Verb constructions in descriptions of everyday sounds}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/rcl.00233.tzi}},
  doi          = {{10.1075/rcl.00233.tzi}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}