attachments_06-04-2012_23-41-26 / 7 sound

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Read the following text and be ready to answer the questions given below.

Sound

Sound is a strong expression of emotions. You can manipulate with sounds to create the dramatic effect to suit the situation, or, on the contrary, changing the volume and the character of the sound make the atmosphere gay and optimistic

Certain nature-associated sounds help you develop a realistic illusion. Thus, cockcrow suggests it is dawn. Crying seagulls are associated with the sea. Music or sound effects can show the location of the events, as, for example, the signals of a police-car in the street.

Occasionally you may take out all environmental sounds to provide the necessary background.

Besides, sounds help us interpret the situation. Depending on accompanying music, for example, we can analyze the person’s deeds and behavior. Background music has become obligatory for many programmes. It can range from purely melodic accompaniment to music that imitates different sounds. Sometimes even musical instruments are used to create audio effects, like seashore sounds and the sounds of footsteps, different creaks, clicks and other noises. These very sounds can also be used off-screen. Off-screen sounds may be chosen to intrigue us, to arouse our curiosity, to exaggerate or emphasize our impressions of a scene. For example, an old man reminiscing at dinner: “In those days, Vienna was a city of wonderful music …”. While watching him, we hear a waltz in the background, and a new scene is being introduced, where music serves as the best linkage between scenes.

The most obvious sound element is the human voice, which can be used in different ways:

an off-screen commentator; a single man, addressing the camera; the dialogue between people, formal or informal, with breaking off and interruptions. And after all, we may hear the thoughts of a character while watching his silent face or the subject of his thoughts.

1. Can you name several forms of sound effects, used in Broadcasting?

2. How can sounds express human emotions?

3. Give examples of sound elements.