The sound of our words: Singling, a textual sonification software

Abstract

As visualization struggles to grasp the intricate and temporal networks of meaning found in textual data, sonification emerges as a creative and effective way of representing language. Accordingly, this paper seeks to introduce Singling, a textual sonification software that allows users to create and manipulate auditory representations of a text's lexicogrammatical properties. To achieve this, we first present Singling's main features and interface. We then discuss an example of using this sonification software to explore—both analytically and aesthetically—three different poems. Overall, this paper seeks to introduce researchers, educators, and artists to the many possibilities of Singling and the practice of textual sonification, which includes data analysis, multimodal and collaborative narrative creation, and musical performance to name a few.