Glossary

Diegetic- Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film.

• voices of characters 
• sounds made by objects in the story 
• music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music

Non-Diegetic- Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action.

• narrator's commentary
• sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• mood music

Ambient- Sound of surrounding area or environment. Used to create a particular atmosphere or sense of place.

SFX- Sound effect artificially created or enhanced sound.


Mood- Sound that sets the mood.


Tone- Any sound considered with reference to its quality, pitch, strength, source, etc. : shrill tones.


Genre- A category of music, marked by a distinctive style.


Theme Music- Music that introduces, develops and ends the film.


Voiceover- Off-Camera Commentary/Narration. 


Musical Score- Music written for film to create an atmosphere.


Synchronous Sound- Are those sounds which are synchronized or matched with what is viewed.


Asynchronous Sound- Sound which is indigenous to the action but not precisely synchronized with the action.


Contrapuntal- Any music that contains two or more voices heard simultaneously.


Silence- Is the relative or total lack of audible sound.


Selective Sound- Is used to emphasise key sound elements within a sequence.


Sound Bridges- Use of sound to help transition from scene to scene.