SOUND

SOUND

DIEGETIC AND NONDIEGETIC SOUND

This is the world of film as we see it on the cinema screen it is known as the diegetic world. We can only see a section of this world, the events which the filmaker has chosen to include in the frame. However in modern day cinema-going audience we accapet that there are things taking place around th edges of what wea see on screen.

Diegetic Sound

Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is understood 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)
• Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world
• Diegetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame.

This is sound which is part of the film world we are watching. This can be either dialogue, music or sound effects which come from a source within the world of film. The music would be from a source visible on the set screen.

Nondiegetic Sound

Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been understood to be present in the action:

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

This is sound which we don not recognise as part of the film world such a voice-over or background music.