Perspectives on soundscapes: Verb constructions in descriptions of everyday sounds

Journal Article
Source: Review of Cognitive Linguistics. Published under the auspices of the Spanish Cognitive Linguistics Association
Available online: 22 September 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/rcl.00233.tzi

Abstract

This study explored how listeners use verb constructions to describe everyday sounds. It considered (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.

Keywords
acousmatic sounds, auditory experiences, conceptual structures, event constructions, sound descriptions