ABSTRACT
It is only comparatively recently that it has become possible to write about ‘ethnographies of sound’. Historically, sound has generally been somewhat overlooked in ethnographic work. There is, however, a developing consciousness among ethnographic researchers of the importance of attending to sound and an increasing awareness that listening is integral to their work. In addition, there has been growing recognition of the value of ethnographic research in approaching the study of sound worlds, and researchers in this area are acknowledging the benefits of using sound recordings and compositions as well as or instead of written text in the presentation of ethnographic material. More and more, ethnographic work is being produced ‘in’ as well as ‘on’ or ‘about’ sound.
