The Power of Sound

Abstract

Despite the preponderance of visual stimuli in our world, we use sound and words as the primary mechanism of communication between each other. From the powerful speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln to the pillow talk between lovers, we create sound to carry our hopes, dreams, and desires. Whether we are greeting each other after a long absence (like the elephants) or calling out to our significant other (like the butterflyfish), it is our words that carry information and emotion to each other. Even when we are not talking to each other, we fill our world with songs, videos, and movies that challenge us to think, console us when we are sad, fill us with joy, or even cause us to dance in celebration. In other ways, our words are how we define who we are. With words, our promises create an ethical bond with those to whom we make promises. In marriages, a simple nod in response to vows is not sufficient; the words “I do” must be acknowledged and spoken to create that relationship. For many personal dealings, verbally accepting a deal finally seals the relationship. Thus, sounds, either spoken or sung, are a central and fundamental structure of our society.