Semiotics and Music in Multimedia

These flashcards cover key concepts in phonetics and semiotics as covered in Dr. Meave's lecture, focusing on the elements and theories that describe the interaction of signs in music and multimedia.

What is semiotics?

The study of signs and sign-using behavior.

Who defined semiotics as 'the study of the life of signs within society'?

Ferdinand de Saussure.

What are the three elements of semiosis according to traditional semiotic theory?

Object, Sign, Interpreter.

How do signs interact in multimedia products?

They create meaning through the interaction of various visual and sound signs.

What are the primary activities related to music outlined in the lecture?

Reception, Performance, Creation.

What does reception in music involve?

Listening, feeling, thinking about music, and discussing it.

What is the role of sound in music?

Sound is the raw material of music, requiring a source, medium, and receiver.

What are the main components required to have sound?

Source, Medium, Receiver.

What does loudness indicate in the perceptual realm?

The intensity of a sound.

What are the attributes of sound that we recognize?

Pitch, Loudness, Spatial localization, Sonic texture, Timbre.

How is pitch related to sound waves?

Pitch is related to the frequency of sound waves.

What does the term 'octave' refer to in music?

The same pitch but lower or higher, mathematically defined as a sound wave with double or half the frequency.

What is the human loudness range measured in decibels (dB)?

From 0 dB (listening threshold) to 120 dB (pain threshold).

What is sonic texture?

The cognitive separation of auditory objects, influencing the organization of sound.

What are the four moments in a dynamic envelope of sound?

Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release.

What influences the perception of timbre?

Frequency envelope and dynamic envelope.