sound key words and definitions

1. Sound

2. Diegetic sound
Sound that exists within the fictional world of
the text (the diegesis)
Non-diegetic sound
Sound that the audience can hear, but
doesn’t exist within the fictional world of
the text.

3. Sound mixing
When the different parts of sound, music, voice
etc., change volume levels.
Synchronous/ asynchronous sound
Synchronous – the sound that happens as the
action that creates it.
Asynchronous – the sound that occurs at a
different time to the action that creates it.

4. Sound effects
Artificially created or enhanced sounds.
Sound motif
A sound effect or combination of sound effects
that are associated with a particular character,
setting, situation or idea through text.
Sound bridge
A piece of music or sound that bridges an edit
from one scene to another (used in a lot of
American sitcoms)

5. Dialogue
Scripted an unscripted voices.
Voiceover
A non-diegetic voice anchoring down meanings
produced by the on screen images.
Mode of address/ direct address
Direct address – the viewer is directly addressed.
The voiced over or character looks at the
audience or addresses that audience as ‘you’.

6. Sound perspective
Refers to the apparent distance of a sound. E.g.
the sound of hooves in the distance will be
quieter than when close.
Soundtrack: score
Recorded music accompanying and synchronised
to the images of a moving image text.
Incidental music
Often “background” music, and adds
atmosphere to the action. E.g. a single note.

7. Themes and stings
Themes - All sound features may share certain
characteristics – e.g. a particular rhythm.
Sting - A brief stab of music used to enhance the
drama of action.
Ambient sound
The background sounds which are present in a
scene or location. Common ambient sounds
include wind, water, birds, crowds, offices noises
and traffic.