This document defines and describes various types of sound that can be used in films, including diegetic sound whose source is visible or implied to be present in the story, and non-diegetic sound whose source is outside the story world. It also discusses synchronous and asynchronous sound, sound effects, motifs, bridges, dialogue, voiceovers, perspective, incidental music, themes, stings, and ambient sound. Each term is concisely defined.

1. SOUND AND MEANING Chrissie Bishop

2. DIEGETIC
Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to
be present by the action of the film:
• Voices of characters
• Sounds made by objects in the story
• Music represented as coming from instruments in the story space
Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the
film's world

3. NON-DIEGETIC
Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to
be present in the action:
• Narrator's commentary
• Sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• Mood music
Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story
space

4. SYNCHRONOUS
Sound that appears to be matched to certain movements
occurring in the scene, for example when footsteps
correspond to feet walking in sync.

5. ASYNCHRONOUS
Are not matched with a visible source of the sound on
screen. For example, the background sound of an
ambulance's siren while the foreground sound and image
portrays an arguing couple.

6. SOUND EFFECTS
A sound other than speech or music made artificially for use
in a play, movie, or other broadcast production.

7. SOUND MOTIF
A sound effect or combination of sound effects that are
associated with a particular character, setting, situation or
idea through the film.

8. SOUND BRIDGE
When the scene begins with the carry-over sound from the
previous scene before the new sound begins.

9. DIALOGUE
Conversation between two or more people as a feature of a
book, play, movie or TV series.

10. VOICEOVER
The voice of an unseen narrator, or of an onscreen character
not seen speaking, in a movie or a television broadcast.

11. MODE OF ADDRESS / DIRECT
ADDRESS
How the text speaks to the audience and involves them. It
also involves how a text influences an audience to respond
to a text in a certain way.

12. SOUND PERSPECTIVE
A sound’s position in space as perceived by the viewer
given by volume, timbre, and pitch.

13. SCORE / INCIDENTAL MUSIC
Original music written specifically to accompany a film, often
played in the background.

14. THEMES AND STINGS
Themes is music that always accompanies the particular TV
show or even a particular character (eg James Bond) and
suits its mood or themes.
Stings are short bursts of music, originally used in TV and
radio to bump together different sections and chapters of a
show.

15. AMBIENT SOUND
Ambient sound means the background sounds which are
present in a scene or location. Common ambient sounds
include wind, water, birds, crowds, office noises, traffic, etc.