Natural sounds include animal sounds, possibly also sounds of other natural phenomena. They may have contributed to or participated in the development of prehistoric music, and have important cultural references even nowadays.

Animals

Warning sounds

These are sounds made by animals to warn others, of their species, of impending danger. Similar "warning" sounds are made by those of any unique species when a predator is approaching that species' territory, warning others to seek safety.

Territory sounds

These are sounds, calls, or audible signals made by any one species to its own or any other species, establishing boundaries so like or unlike species will not transgress those boundaries.

Male baboons make sounds heard for miles by other baboons, communicating to those other male baboons, the territory of that male baboon. The strength, volume, and timbre, inherent in that "call", determine whether or not rival males attempt to invade that male baboon's territory.

They do this to make them sound impressive and then to attract the female to them.

Courtship and/or mate attracting sounds

These are sounds made by the male baboon to attract females to his territory for courtship and mating. Again, the strength, quality, and timbre of those sounds, often determine the ability of that species to attract females for reproduction. These mating calls, often low and guttural, are the main criteria, used by the female baboon to determine which male she mates with.

Cultural references

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, for example, imitation of natural sounds can be linked to various shamanistic beliefs or practice (e.g. yoiks of the Sami,^[1][2][3] some other shamanic songs and rituals,^[4][5][6][7] overtone singing of some cultures). It may serve also such practical goals as luring game in the hunt;^[8] or entertainment (katajjaqs of Inuit).^[9][10]

See also

• Animal communication
• Animal language
• Bioacoustics
• Bird song
• Soundscape
• Whale song

External links

• The British Library Sound Archive has 150,000 recordings of over 10,000 species.
• International Bioacoustics Council links to many bioacoustics resources.
• Listen to Nature 400 examples of animal songs and calls
• Wildlife Sound Recording Society

Notes

1. ↑ Szomjas-Schiffert 1996: 56, 76
2. ↑ Szomjas-Schiffert 1996: 64
3. ↑ Szomjas-Schiffert 1996: 74
4. ↑ Hoppál 2006: 143
5. ↑ Diószegi 1960: 203
6. ↑ Hoppál 2005: 92
7. ↑ Lintrop
8. ↑ Nattiez: 5
9. ↑ Nattiez: 5
10. ↑ Deschęnes 2002

References

• 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 are online available from the ethnopoetics website curated by Jerome Rothenberg.