Sound mimesis in various cultures
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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,[1][2][3][4] some other shamanic songs and rituals,[5][6][7] overtone singing of some cultures). It may serve also such practical goals as luring in the hunt;[8] or entertainment (katajjaqs of Inuit).[8][9]
Among some peoples of the Altai-Sayan region, 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.[10]
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[edit] Fields
[edit] Shamanism
Shamanism in various cultures shows great diversity.[11] In some cultures, the music or songs related to shamanistic practice may mimic natural sounds, sometimes with onomatopoiea.[12]
[edit] 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.[8][9]
[edit] 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.[8]
Some Eskimo peoples used a tool (shaped like a claw) to scratch the ice of the frozen sea: seals, these intelligent and curious animals were attracted by that sound.[13][14]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Szomjas-Schiffert 1996: 56, 76
- ^ Szomjas-Schiffert 1996: 64
- ^ Somby 1995
- ^ Szomjas-Schiffert 1996: 74
- ^ Diószegi 1960: 203
- ^ Hoppál 2005: 92
- ^ Lintrop
- ^ a b c d Nattiez: 5
- ^ a b Deschênes 2002
- ^ "Song ond sound mimesis". Foundation for Endangered Languages. http://www.ogmios.org/164.htm.
- ^ Hoppál 2005: 15
- ^ Hoppál 2006: 143
- ^ Burch & Forman 1988: 56–57
- ^ Birket-Smith 1969: 127
[edit] References
- Birket-Smith, Kaj (1969) (in Hungarian). A kultúra ösvényei. Általános etnológia. Budapest: Gondolat. Translation of the original: Birket-Smith, Kaj (1965). The Paths of Culture. A General Ethnology. Madison • Milwaukee: The University of Wisconsin Press.
- Burch, Ernest S. (junior); Forman, Werner (1988). The Eskimos. Norman, Oklahoma 73018, USA: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-2126-2.
- Deschênes, Bruno (2002). "Inuit Throat-Singing". Musical Traditions. The Magazine for Traditional Music Throughout the World. http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/inuit.htm.
- Diószegi, Vilmos (1960) (in Hungarian). Sámánok nyomában Szibéria földjén. Egy néprajzi kutatóút története. Budapest: Magvető Könyvkiadó. http://mek.oszk.hu/02100/02181. The book has been translated to English: Diószegi, Vilmos (1968). Tracing shamans in Siberia. The story of an ethnographical research expedition. Translated from Hungarian by Anita Rajkay Babó. Oosterhout: Anthropological Publications.
- Hoppál, Mihály (2005) (in Hungarian). Sámánok Eurázsiában. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó. ISBN 963-05-8295-3. 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).
- Hoppál, Mihály (2006). "Music of Shamanic Healing". in Gerhard Kilger. Macht Musik. Musik als Glück und Nutzen für das Leben. Köln: Wienand Verlag. ISBN 3879098654. http://dasa.baua.de/nn_35984/sid_2C8A99B3F31A58C62BBE3312986DC568/nsc_true/de/Presse/Pressematerialien/Sonderausstellung_20Macht_20Musik/Schamanen-Musik.pdf.
- Lintrop, Aarno. "The Clean Tent Rite". Studies in Siberian shamanism and religions of the Finno-Ugric peoples. http://haldjas.folklore.ee/~aado/tent.htm.
- Nattiez, Jean Jacques, Inuit Games and Songs • Chants et Jeux des Inuit, Musiques & musiciens du monde • Musics & musicians of the world, Montreal: Research Group in Musical Semiotics, Faculty of Music, University of Montreal. The songs are online available from the ethnopoetics website curated by Jerome Rothenberg.
- Somby, Ánde (1995). "Joik and the theory of knowledge". http://www.uit.no/ssweb/dok/Somby/Ande/95.htm.
- Szomjas-Schiffert, György (1996) (in Hungarian and English). Lapp sámánok énekes hagyománya • Singing tradition of Lapp shamans. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó. ISBN 963 05 6940 X.
- Voigt, Vilmos (1966) (in Hungarian). A varázsdob és a látó asszonyok. Lapp népmesék. Népek meséi. Budapest: Európa Könyvkiadó. The title means: “The magic drum and the clairvoyant women. Sami folktales”, the series means: “Tales of folks”.
[edit] External links
- Hoppál, Mihály (2006). "Music of Shamanic Healing". in Gerhard Kilger. Macht Musik. Musik als Glück und Nutzen für das Leben. Köln: Wienand Verlag. ISBN 3879098654. http://dasa.baua.de/nn_35984/sid_2C8A99B3F31A58C62BBE3312986DC568/nsc_true/de/Presse/Pressematerialien/Sonderausstellung_20Macht_20Musik/Schamanen-Musik.pdf.
- "Pygmies of Southern Congo Imitating Forest Animals" (streamed video). Afrique Profonde. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJmDgoXqS48.
