Soundmarks

Soundmarks are sounds or soundscapes that are distinctive to a place and serve as audible identifiers of that locale. They function like landmarks in the visual world, but their primary medium is sound. A soundmark may be a natural sound, such as birdsong or waves, or a human-made sound, such as church bells, a distinctive train whistle, or the ambience of a busy market. The key idea is that the sound is closely associated with a place and is recognized and valued by its residents or visitors. Removing or altering a soundmark can erode the place’s sonic character.

Originating with the work of R. Murray Schafer in the World Soundscape Project during the 1970s, the term soundmark is used to describe sounds that contribute to a location’s identity. Schafer distinguished soundmarks from functional signals and from noise, emphasizing that soundmarks are culturally meaningful and locally recognizable. The concept has since been used in soundscape studies, urban design, and heritage preservation to highlight the auditory dimension of place.

Examples of soundmarks can be natural (such as specific birdsongs or coastal sounds) or human-made (such as church bells, a distinctive factory whistle, or a traditional market chorus). In practice, soundmarks are identified through listening surveys, field recordings, and sonic mapping, often involving community input. Preservation efforts focus on maintaining or restoring these audible elements to sustain a locale’s character amid development and changing noise environments.