Abstract:

This research project aims to investigate the sonic identity of the city of Amman (capital of Jordan) through an interdisciplinary methodology. This methodology integrates various acoustic, spatial and socio-cultural dimensions which affect the characterization and evaluation of sonic environments.

It consists of selecting exemplary places from the city, carrying out sound recordings in those places and then, taking subjects responses on those recordings through the reactive listening sessions. Therefore, fifty eight (58) inhabitants (with different ages, knowledge of the city, and places of living and work) were asked to name and locate significant sound elements and environments which exist in Amman. Besides, two sessions with blinds, two with architects, one with linguists, one with journalists, and one with broadcasters were held. In all of these sessions, people went through the task of naming and locating sound elements and environments. Then, they were asked to comment on those which were most frequently mentioned by inhabitants. Moreover, six notable writers who live in Amman, know it quite well and wrote about it were also interviewed through the previous procedure. Then, 12 places were selected depending on both the rate of the recurrence of places and on the CVS model.

Recordings were taken in those places. For the reactive listening sessions nine interviews here held. After the third interview, three places were selected to be fully and thoroughly studied and thus, subsequent sessions were limited to them.

Analysis of the interviews led to the identification of the criteria that characterize the sonic environment of each of those places. In addition, a probable scenario for the sonic identity of Amman was drawn. Results also indicate that responses towards sounds are apparently influenced by a wide range of personal, cultural and contextual characteristics and were not merely affected by the measurable intensity of the sonic environment. All these acoustic, spatial and socio-cultural variables interact in order to form the richness and complexity of the sonic environment and to determine the relationship between people and this environment as well as their evaluation of it. It was found that characterization of the sonic environment can be formulated by three dimensions namely; space, sound and social practice. As such, it can be concluded that sounds of Amman are important factors which shape the city's identity together with the city's visual qualities and various socio-cultural factors. In addition, sounds were always able to reflect those qualities and factors."