: Re: Sounds: how to describe them? How do I describe the sound of a low growl in a low technological culture context? All that comes to mind as possible descriptions are the sounds of rolling

@Lengel543

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In general, a human will tend to hear a sound as similar to something familiar. If you've never heard a watch alarm before, you'll probably think it's some kind of insect call because of the high frequency harmonics. If you've never heard, say, steel wheels on a steel rail, you're likely to think of the sound as similar to rocks scraping together (especially if you're unfamiliar with thunder or large scale water movement).

The basic principle here, however, is that the mind makes the unfamiliar into something more familiar. See a light in the sky, and if it stands still it's a star (or planet, if you know about those). See something vaguely below the surface of moving water, you'll think it's a huge boulder or shoal if you don't know about whales.

Overall, the phenomenon is a branch of pareidolia, which in general refers to seeing patterns where there are none -- animal shapes in clouds, faces in electric outlets, and so forth. All humans have it to a greater or lesser extent, and it's generally stronger in primitives than in those familiar with a much broader range of phenomena.

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