The imitation of natural sounds in various cultures is a diverse phenomenon and can fill in various functions. In several instances, it is related to the belief system (yoiks of the Sami,^[1][2][3][4] some other shamanic songs and rituals,^[5][6][7] overtone singing of some cultures). It may serve also such practical goals as luring in the hunt;^[8] or entertainment (katajjaqs of Inuit).^[8][9]

Among some peoples of the Altai-Sayan region, including Tofa, the ability to mimic sounds of the environment includes hunting calls, and is present also in a traditional singing tradition preserved only by some old people.^[10]

Contents 1 Fields 1.1 Shamanism 1.2 Entertainment 1.3 Luring animals 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Fields

[edit] Shamanism

Shamanism in various cultures shows great diversity.^[11] In some cultures, the music or songs related to shamanistic practice may mimic natural sounds, sometimes with onomatopoiea.^[12]

[edit] Entertainment

The intention to mimic natural sounds is not necessarily linked to shamanistic beliefs or practice alone. Katajjaq (a "genre" of music of some Inuit groups) is a game played by women, for entertainment. In some instances, natural sounds (mostly those of animals, e.g. geese) are imitated.^[8][9]

[edit] Luring animals

The kind of katajjaq mentioned above, which mimics the cry of geese, shows some similarities with the practice of the hunters to lure game.^[8]

Some Eskimo peoples used a tool (shaped like a claw) to scratch the ice of the frozen sea in order to attract seals.^[13][14]

[edit] See also

• Prehistoric music
• Onomatopoeia
• Vocal learning

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Birket-Smith, Kaj (1969) (in Hungarian). A kultúra ösvényei. Általános etnológia. Budapest: Gondolat.  Translation of the original: Birket-Smith, Kaj (1965). The Paths of Culture. A General Ethnology. Madison • Milwaukee: The University of Wisconsin Press. 
• Burch, Ernest S. (junior); Forman, Werner (1988). The Eskimos. Norman, Oklahoma 73018, USA: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-2126-2. 
• Deschênes, Bruno (2002). "Inuit Throat-Singing". Musical Traditions. The Magazine for Traditional Music Throughout the World. http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/inuit.htm. 
• Diószegi, Vilmos (1960) (in Hungarian). Sámánok nyomában Szibéria földjén. Egy néprajzi kutatóút története. Budapest: Magvető Könyvkiadó. http://mek.oszk.hu/02100/02181.  The book has been translated to English: Diószegi, Vilmos (1968). Tracing shamans in Siberia. The story of an ethnographical research expedition. Translated from Hungarian by Anita Rajkay Babó. Oosterhout: Anthropological Publications. 
• Hoppál, Mihály (2005) (in Hungarian). Sámánok Eurázsiában. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó. ISBN 963-05-8295-3.  The title means “Shamans in Eurasia”, the book is published also in German, Estonian and Finnish. Site of publisher with short description on the book (in Hungarian).
• Hoppál, Mihály (2006). "Music of Shamanic Healing". in Gerhard Kilger. Macht Musik. Musik als Glück und Nutzen für das Leben. Köln: Wienand Verlag. ISBN 3879098654. http://dasa.baua.de/nn_35984/sid_2C8A99B3F31A58C62BBE3312986DC568/nsc_true/de/Presse/Pressematerialien/Sonderausstellung_20Macht_20Musik/Schamanen-Musik.pdf. 
• Lintrop, Aarno. "The Clean Tent Rite". Studies in Siberian shamanism and religions of the Finno-Ugric peoples. http://haldjas.folklore.ee/~aado/tent.htm. 
• Nattiez, Jean Jacques, Inuit Games and Songs • Chants et Jeux des Inuit, Musiques & musiciens du monde • Musics & musicians of the world, Montreal: Research Group in Musical Semiotics, Faculty of Music, University of Montreal . The songs are online available from the ethnopoetics website curated by Jerome Rothenberg.
• Somby, Ánde (1995). "Joik and the theory of knowledge". http://www.uit.no/ssweb/dok/Somby/Ande/95.htm. 
• Szomjas-Schiffert, György (1996) (in Hungarian and English). Lapp sámánok énekes hagyománya • Singing tradition of Lapp shamans. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó. ISBN 963 05 6940 X. 
• Voigt, Vilmos (1966) (in Hungarian). A varázsdob és a látó asszonyok. Lapp népmesék. Népek meséi. Budapest: Európa Könyvkiadó.  The title means: “The magic drum and the clairvoyant women. Sami folktales”, the series means: “Tales of folks”.

[edit] External links

• Hoppál, Mihály (2006). "Music of Shamanic Healing". in Gerhard Kilger. Macht Musik. Musik als Glück und Nutzen für das Leben. Köln: Wienand Verlag. ISBN 3879098654. http://dasa.baua.de/nn_35984/sid_2C8A99B3F31A58C62BBE3312986DC568/nsc_true/de/Presse/Pressematerialien/Sonderausstellung_20Macht_20Musik/Schamanen-Musik.pdf. 
• "Pygmies of Southern Congo Imitating Forest Animals" (streamed video). Afrique Profonde. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJmDgoXqS48. 
• Mamcheva, Natalia (2004). "Aspects of the Music of the Nivkhs". Pacific Rim Music Festival, Ancient Sakhalin in Music, Song and Dance. Ensemble XXI. http://www.ensemblexxi.org/nivkh_music.htm.  Translated from Russian by Lygia O'Riordan.