{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:04:11Z","timestamp":1760058251800,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,20]],"date-time":"2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1742428800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","award":["UIDB\/00693\/2020","LA\/P\/0132\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00693\/2020","LA\/P\/0132\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The spontaneous use of verbal expressions to articulate and describe abstract auditory phenomena in everyday interactions is an inherent aspect of human nature. This occurs without the structured conditions typically required in controlled laboratory environments, relying instead on intuitive and spontaneous modes of expression. This study explores the relationship between auditory perception and descriptive language for abstract sounds. These sounds, synthesized without identifiable sources or musical structures, allow listeners to engage with sound perception free from external references. The investigation of correlations between subjective descriptors (e.g., \u201crough\u201d, \u201cbright\u201d) and physical sound attributes (e.g., spectral and dynamic properties) reveals significant cross-modal linguistic associations in auditory perception. An international survey with a diverse group of participants revealed that listeners often draw on other sensory domains to describe sounds, suggesting a robust cross-modal basis for auditory descriptors. Moreover, the findings indicate a correlation between subjective descriptors and objective sound wave properties, demonstrating the effectiveness of abstract sounds in guiding listeners\u2019 attention to intrinsic qualities. These results could support the development of new paradigms in sound analysis and manipulation, with applications in artistic, educational, and analytical contexts. This multidisciplinary approach may provide the foundation for a perceptual framework for sound analysis, to be tested and refined through theoretical modelling and experimental validation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs15030396","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,20]],"date-time":"2025-03-20T12:23:11Z","timestamp":1742473391000},"page":"396","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Listening Beyond the Source: Exploring the Descriptive Language of Musical Sounds"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1631-8104","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Isabel","family":"Pires","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CESEM\u2014Centre for the Study of the Sociology and Aesthetics of Music, School of Social and Human Sciences of the NOVA University of Lisbon, Nova University, 1069-061 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"IN2PAST\u2014Associate Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Heritage, Arts, Sustainability, and Territory, 7000-809 \u00c9vora, Portugal"},{"name":"IN2PAST\u2014Associate Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Heritage, Arts, Sustainability, and Territory, 1099-085 Lisboa, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1177\/03010066231224557","article-title":"Crossmodal associations between naturally occurring tactile and sound textures","volume":"53","author":"Bulusu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Perception"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Canelon, C. 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