There is an immediate idea coming to my mind what the dichotomy of listening and hearing might be. One is happening constantly and nearly cannot be avoided another one is done my willing choice. It is impossible to switch off hearing in the same way like we can close our eyes in order to not see. Hearing is very automated therefore a lot of information coming from this particular sense is becoming somehow suppressed and non-conscious. Listening on the other hand is a conscious activity requiring our attention in the moment. Listening is harnessing the hearing together with mental focus in order to perceive particular sound or sounds.

Listening is dependent on hearing. We wouldn’t be able to listen without hearing but we do hear without listening a lot. There is few questions arising. What make us to listen? When and how hearing becomes listening. What elements of sound(s) and which situations make that transition from non-conscious hearing into conscious listening?

I have created a typology of listening based on the avenue of how hearing becomes listening considering the relation between object and subject – Listening could be For purpose of art or for purpose of survival. In both situations the sound attracts our attention for some reason. The reason can be automatic (comes from outside – we hear something and are made to listen) but also a conscious as matter of choice (comes from inside – we decide to listen use the hearing consciously).

Here are some examples:

Artistic Automatic Listening – There is a sound piece, music or soundscape happening around us. We simply resonate with it for whatever reason therefore it draws our attention and we become conscious listeners.

Hearing the object ➔ Subject is listening

Artistic Conscious Listening – There is a sound piece, music or soundscape happening somewhere and we know about it from before, somebody told us about it or we may presume it happening based on other information. We decide to approach to listen to it with an intention which precedes hearing it.

Subject uses hearing ➔ listening to the object

Survival Automatic Listening – We are crossing the street and unfortunately pay less attention than we are supposed to. A car honks in order to attract our attention, very quickly, in mili-second transforms hearing into listening and stops us from being hit.

Hearing the object ➔ Subject is listening

Survival Conscious Listening – A group of humans decide to go hunting in order to obtain food. Conscious utilisation of silence whilst observing the prey is hearing transformed into conscious listening.

Subject uses hearing ➔ listening to the object