I was really happy to have presented my research poster on 'Soundtalking: Extending Soundscape Practice Through Long-Term Participant-Led Sound Activities in the Dee Estuary' at the UKAN+ (UK Acoustics Network) 2024 Conference in Manchester last week.
THE PROJECT
This study explores the practice of "soundtalking," a novel method of participant-led sound practice, within the environment and soundscape of the Dee Estuary in the UK. Over the course of twelve months, the Our Dee Estuary Project facilitated monthly meetings where participants engaged in in-depth discussions and sound-making activities, fostering a deeper connection with both their local and auditory environments.
The process of longitudinal ethnographic research created an environment of sonic learning and listening development, in addition to health and well being benefits. Through monthly interactions, it was possible to analyse the ways in which participants' experiences and narratives shape and are shaped by the estuary, a sense of place and the soundscape. The study's findings indicate that “soundtalking” as a practice not only enhances participants' auditory perception but also fosters a sense of community and belonging. The repetitive nature of the monthly meetings aided the development of a shared acoustic vocabulary among participants, which in turn enriched their collective and individual experiences of the estuary and the soundscape.
Soundtalking is proposed as an additional tool in the study of soundscapes to complement and extend more commonly implemented methods, such as soundwalking and soundsitting. Soundtalking demonstrates the efficacy of longitudinal, participant-led approaches in capturing the dynamic and lived experiences of soundscapes, over methods which only create fleeting short term engagements with the soundscape.
• Deeper listening states were be achieved, with participants able focus their listening on details, spatiality and temporality within the chosen soundscape context.
• Deeper active listening allowed for 'deep topographical’ analysis and detail in the participants qualitative assessment of the soundscape.
Deeper engagement, understanding and therefore analysis of the soundscape provided richer data on what constitutes soundscape.
The Our Dee Estuary Project demonstrated the transformative potential of soundtalking in deepening our understanding of human-environment interactions and has shown that there are both health and wellbeing aspects that arise from the practice.
OUTPUTS SO FAR
• A documentary film featuring personal insights in to the process and project, using sound materials captured by participants.
• A sound piece, featuring captured soundscape and voices of the participants.
These works not only document but also celebrate the intricate and evolving relationship between the participants and the estuarine soundscape, and offer valuable insights for future soundscape research and community engagement initiatives.
A research method which provides participant well-being benefits, along with deeper insights into the soundscape.
Journal paper coming soon.