1753:
1763:
1742:
1773:
20:
300:
and tropical areas of
America, people have used drum telegraphy for centuries to communicate over long distances. When European expeditions came into the jungles to explore, they were surprised to find that people already knew they were coming and what their intentions were. By repeating a message in
355:
Drum communication methods are not languages in their own right, though they can be based on spoken languages. In such cases, the sounds produced are conventionalized or idiomatic signals based on speech patterns. The drummed messages are normally very stereotyped and context-dependent; speakers of
252:
A long slit is cut in one side of a log, then it is hollowed out through the slit, leaving lips (wooden ledges) on each side of the opening. Using a larger log enables a louder sound that can be heard over longer distances. By hollowing more under one lip and less under the other, the drum can be
69:-shaped instrument can be finely controlled, it cannot be heard at distances beyond a gathering or market-place, and it is primarily used in ceremonial settings. Ceremonial functions could include dance, rituals, story-telling and communication of points of order.
288:
to send vibrations through the ground to other cambarysus up to 1.5 km away. Some scholars expressed skepticism about the claim that it sent vibrations through the ground (rather than the air), and about the claim that it existed.
350:
Two different types of traditional drum communication are found in Africa. The first type associates each idea with a particular rhythmic pattern, and the second type represents spoken utterances by mimicking their accentual
386:
In certain languages, the pitch of each syllable is uniquely determined in relation to adjacent syllables. In these cases, messages can be transmitted as rapid beats at the same speed as speech, as the
410:
or honorary title to create an expanded version of the name of a person, animal, or object, the indistinguishable single beat of an ordinary name can be replaced with a particular rhythmic and melodic
335:
Talking drums were also used in East Africa and are described by
Andreus Bauer in the 'Street of Caravans', about his time as a security guard in the Wissmann Truppe for the caravan of Charles Stokes.
268:
Under ideal conditions, the sound can be understood at five to eleven kilometres (3–7 mi), but interesting messages usually get relayed on by the next village. Drums used by the
356:
true languages have the ability to form new combinations and expressions that will immediately be understood by the listener, but that is not the case in drum communication.
414:
for each subject. In practice not all listeners understand all of the stock phrases; the drum language is understood only to the level of each person's immediate concern.
579:
1017:
398:
Misinterpretations can occur due to the highly ambiguous nature of the communication. The ambiguity is reduced by context effects and the use of
685:
608:
332:. There they were banned because they were being used by the slaves to communicate over long distances in a code unknown to their enslavers.
281:
233:
when struck, are larger all-wood instruments hollowed out from a single log. Slit-log drums are common in the drum communication systems of
1725:
1697:
1692:
717:
265:
of high and low notes. Small stands are often placed under each end of the drum to keep it off the ground and let it vibrate more freely.
301:
turn from one nearby location to another, African drummers can transmit that message a total distance of 100 miles in about an hour.
249:. While some are simple and utilitarian, they can also be highly elaborate works of sculpture while still retaining their function.
614:
1797:
1719:
1714:
1704:
1684:
1486:
514:
851:
1776:
1709:
1555:
671:
1481:
1575:
479:
1360:
908:
710:
1471:
1466:
272:
of
Cameroon might be heard as far away as 10 to 15 miles at night, compared to three to four during daytime.
1491:
534:
521:
Drum messages can be heard at a distance of between three to seven miles, according to
Carrington 1949b: 25.
1766:
1527:
1424:
967:
762:
734:
1756:
1263:
703:
636:
Epstein, Dena J. (1963). "Slave Music in the United States before 1860: A Survey of
Sources (Part II)".
1615:
1537:
1476:
1183:
1387:
1348:
1193:
1093:
1022:
955:
782:
1746:
988:
923:
876:
836:
1585:
1570:
1414:
1365:
1288:
1188:
866:
752:
747:
375:, where syllables are associated with a certain tone, some words are distinguished only by their
1507:
1293:
1108:
1053:
1048:
861:
472:
Becoming a
Garamut Player in Baluan, Papua New Guinea Musical Analysis As a Pathway to Learning
245:. Variations in the thickness of the walls give varying tones when struck by the heavy wooden
1409:
1213:
1178:
1098:
1078:
1000:
888:
809:
376:
742:
1323:
1283:
1253:
1010:
945:
767:
360:
8:
1333:
1273:
1032:
994:
792:
777:
599:
1560:
1517:
1448:
1318:
1248:
1223:
1158:
1005:
726:
653:
368:
329:
72:
Some of the groups of variations of the talking drum among West
African ethnic groups:
1600:
1522:
1436:
1419:
1382:
1228:
1058:
1027:
893:
787:
510:
485:
475:
449:
246:
1268:
1605:
1565:
1545:
1512:
1441:
1399:
1313:
1168:
1153:
1128:
1103:
1063:
913:
772:
757:
645:
234:
120:
1233:
1088:
856:
831:
819:
403:
210:
690:
1802:
1431:
1303:
1278:
1238:
1208:
1083:
918:
871:
846:
804:
254:
182:
130:
489:
1791:
1580:
1353:
1343:
1258:
1148:
1143:
1133:
1118:
940:
799:
424:
411:
372:
321:
261:, a lower and a higher one. The drum's lips are hit with sticks, beating out
98:
39:
379:. Therefore, syllable drum languages can often transfer a message using the
1458:
1298:
1243:
1173:
1138:
1073:
972:
962:
814:
604:
444:
399:
344:
309:
258:
194:
186:
152:
142:
138:
80:
59:
1658:
1308:
1218:
1203:
1163:
1123:
982:
305:
269:
116:
1663:
1370:
1068:
977:
933:
903:
881:
297:
657:
1648:
1113:
928:
695:
439:
325:
285:
238:
230:
226:
66:
47:
205:
In the 20th century the talking drums have become a part of popular
1643:
1633:
1550:
1375:
1198:
686:
Talking Drum from
Instrument Encyclopedia, including a sound sample
649:
364:
172:
43:
23:
1638:
1623:
841:
407:
380:
313:
156:
102:
84:
31:
504:
1668:
1628:
950:
392:
388:
293:
262:
214:
35:
1653:
1590:
898:
317:
206:
198:
168:
164:
160:
134:
106:
555:
1595:
434:
429:
190:
16:
Drums used for long-distance signalling and communications
19:
359:
In
Central and East Africa, drum patterns represent the
568:
Il "Cambarysú": telefono dei Catuquinarú dell'Amazzonia
304:
Among the famous communication drums are the drums of
229:, with hollow chambers and long, narrow openings that
38:
areas, drums served as an early form of long-distance
509:. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers. p. 470.
284:tribe of Brazil reportedly used a drum called the
209:in West Africa, especially in the music genres of
1789:
65:While the tone and articulation of this type of
711:
609:The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood
550:
548:
395:both match the equivalent spoken utterance.
1726:Global telecommunications regulation bodies
469:
320:they spread across West Africa, and to the
1762:
718:
704:
406:, most stems are monosyllabic. By using a
611:. 526pp. Fourth Estate. 978 0 00 722573 6
545:
502:
18:
675:. Connexions (licensed under CC-BY 1.0)
635:
535:"Drum Talk Is the African's "Wireless""
1790:
725:
629:
600:"Information, from drums to Knowledge"
588:, issue 520, 13 December 1898, page 4]
496:
338:
699:
597:
573:
1772:
617:from the original on 14 January 2013
532:
13:
669:Schmidt-Jones, C. (2005, May 24).
560:
14:
1814:
691:Drum Language in Ghanaian Schools
679:
613:. The Times Literary Supplement.
1771:
1761:
1752:
1751:
1740:
1361:Free-space optical communication
598:Davis, Ernest (23 August 2011).
225:Message drums, or more properly
638:Music Library Association Notes
371:of the particular language. In
312:). From regions known today as
58:
591:
526:
463:
1:
1798:History of telecommunications
581:The original of the telephone
456:
220:
1747:Telecommunication portal
1528:Telecommunications equipment
275:
7:
1264:Alexander Stepanovich Popov
417:
10:
1819:
968:Telecommunications history
470:Lewis, Tony (2018-04-19).
342:
237:, where they are known in
1735:
1677:
1614:
1576:Public Switched Telephone
1536:
1500:
1457:
1398:
1388:telecommunication circuit
1349:Fiber-optic communication
1332:
1094:Francis Blake (telephone)
1041:
889:Optical telecommunication
733:
566:Enrico Hillyer Giglioli,
506:Oral Literature in Africa
257:to produce two different
1487:Orbital angular-momentum
924:Satellite communications
763:Communications satellite
539:Natural History Magazine
53:
1366:Molecular communication
1189:Gardiner Greene Hubbard
1018:Undersea telegraph line
753:Cable protection system
503:Finnegan, Ruth (2012).
42:, and were used during
1508:Communication protocol
1294:Charles Sumner Tainter
1109:Walter Houser Brattain
1054:Edwin Howard Armstrong
862:Information revolution
377:suprasegmental profile
30:Developed and used by
27:
1482:Polarization-division
1214:Narinder Singh Kapany
1179:Erna Schneider Hoover
1099:Jagadish Chandra Bose
1079:Alexander Graham Bell
810:online video platform
119:of central Ghana and
22:
1324:Vladimir K. Zworykin
1284:Almon Brown Strowger
1254:Charles Grafton Page
909:Prepaid mobile phone
837:Electrical telegraph
1274:Johann Philipp Reis
1033:Wireless revolution
995:The Telephone Cases
852:Hydraulic telegraph
339:What is transmitted
1472:Frequency-division
1449:Telephone exchange
1319:Charles Wheatstone
1249:Jun-ichi Nishizawa
1224:Innocenzo Manzetti
1159:Reginald Fessenden
894:Optical telegraphy
727:Telecommunications
557:, volume 20 (1908)
402:. For example, in
28:
1785:
1784:
1523:Store and forward
1518:Data transmission
1432:Network switching
1383:Transmission line
1229:Guglielmo Marconi
1194:Internet pioneers
1059:Mohamed M. Atalla
1028:Whistled language
640:. Second Series.
533:Good, AI (1942).
516:978-1-906924-72-0
450:Whistled language
1810:
1775:
1774:
1765:
1764:
1755:
1754:
1745:
1744:
1743:
1616:Notable networks
1606:Wireless network
1546:Cellular network
1538:Types of network
1513:Computer network
1400:Network topology
1314:Thomas A. Watson
1169:Oliver Heaviside
1154:Philo Farnsworth
1129:Daniel Davis Jr.
1104:Charles Bourseul
1064:John Logie Baird
773:Data compression
768:Computer network
720:
713:
706:
697:
696:
662:
661:
633:
627:
626:
624:
622:
595:
589:
577:
571:
564:
558:
552:
543:
542:
530:
524:
523:
500:
494:
493:
467:
352:
235:Papua New Guinea
1818:
1817:
1813:
1812:
1811:
1809:
1808:
1807:
1788:
1787:
1786:
1781:
1741:
1739:
1731:
1673:
1610:
1532:
1496:
1453:
1402:
1394:
1335:
1328:
1234:Robert Metcalfe
1089:Tim Berners-Lee
1037:
857:Information Age
729:
724:
682:
666:
665:
634:
630:
620:
618:
596:
592:
578:
574:
565:
561:
553:
546:
531:
527:
517:
501:
497:
482:
468:
464:
459:
454:
420:
349:
347:
341:
278:
223:
63:
56:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1816:
1806:
1805:
1800:
1783:
1782:
1780:
1779:
1769:
1759:
1749:
1736:
1733:
1732:
1730:
1729:
1722:
1717:
1712:
1707:
1702:
1701:
1700:
1695:
1687:
1681:
1679:
1675:
1674:
1672:
1671:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1636:
1631:
1626:
1620:
1618:
1612:
1611:
1609:
1608:
1603:
1598:
1593:
1588:
1583:
1578:
1573:
1568:
1563:
1558:
1553:
1548:
1542:
1540:
1534:
1533:
1531:
1530:
1525:
1520:
1515:
1510:
1504:
1502:
1498:
1497:
1495:
1494:
1489:
1484:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1467:Space-division
1463:
1461:
1455:
1454:
1452:
1451:
1446:
1445:
1444:
1439:
1429:
1428:
1427:
1417:
1412:
1406:
1404:
1396:
1395:
1393:
1392:
1391:
1390:
1380:
1379:
1378:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1357:
1356:
1346:
1340:
1338:
1330:
1329:
1327:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1304:Camille Tissot
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1279:Claude Shannon
1276:
1271:
1269:Tivadar Puskás
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1239:Antonio Meucci
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1209:Charles K. Kao
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1184:Harold Hopkins
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1086:
1084:Emile Berliner
1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1045:
1043:
1039:
1038:
1036:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1023:Videotelephony
1020:
1015:
1014:
1013:
1008:
998:
991:
986:
980:
975:
970:
965:
960:
959:
958:
953:
948:
938:
937:
936:
926:
921:
919:Radiotelephone
916:
911:
906:
901:
896:
891:
886:
885:
884:
874:
869:
864:
859:
854:
849:
844:
839:
834:
829:
824:
823:
822:
817:
812:
807:
805:Internet video
797:
796:
795:
790:
785:
780:
770:
765:
760:
755:
750:
745:
739:
737:
731:
730:
723:
722:
715:
708:
700:
694:
693:
688:
681:
680:External links
678:
677:
676:
664:
663:
650:10.2307/895685
644:(3): 377–390.
628:
590:
586:Mataura Ensign
572:
559:
544:
525:
515:
495:
480:
461:
460:
458:
455:
453:
452:
447:
442:
437:
432:
427:
421:
419:
416:
381:tonal phonemes
373:tone languages
340:
337:
277:
274:
222:
219:
213:(Nigeria) and
203:
202:
176:
146:
124:
110:
88:
62:
57:
55:
52:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1815:
1804:
1801:
1799:
1796:
1795:
1793:
1778:
1770:
1768:
1760:
1758:
1750:
1748:
1738:
1737:
1734:
1727:
1723:
1721:
1718:
1716:
1713:
1711:
1708:
1706:
1703:
1699:
1696:
1694:
1691:
1690:
1688:
1686:
1683:
1682:
1680:
1676:
1670:
1667:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1640:
1637:
1635:
1632:
1630:
1627:
1625:
1622:
1621:
1619:
1617:
1613:
1607:
1604:
1602:
1599:
1597:
1594:
1592:
1589:
1587:
1584:
1582:
1579:
1577:
1574:
1572:
1569:
1567:
1564:
1562:
1559:
1557:
1554:
1552:
1549:
1547:
1544:
1543:
1541:
1539:
1535:
1529:
1526:
1524:
1521:
1519:
1516:
1514:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1505:
1503:
1499:
1493:
1492:Code-division
1490:
1488:
1485:
1483:
1480:
1478:
1477:Time-division
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1464:
1462:
1460:
1456:
1450:
1447:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1434:
1433:
1430:
1426:
1423:
1422:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1407:
1405:
1403:and switching
1401:
1397:
1389:
1386:
1385:
1384:
1381:
1377:
1374:
1373:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1355:
1354:optical fiber
1352:
1351:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1344:Coaxial cable
1342:
1341:
1339:
1337:
1331:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1259:Radia Perlman
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1200:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1149:Lee de Forest
1147:
1145:
1144:Thomas Edison
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1134:Donald Davies
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1119:Claude Chappe
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1040:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1003:
1002:
999:
997:
996:
992:
990:
987:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
963:Smoke signals
961:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
943:
942:
941:Semiconductor
939:
935:
932:
931:
930:
927:
925:
922:
920:
917:
915:
912:
910:
907:
905:
902:
900:
897:
895:
892:
890:
887:
883:
880:
879:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
858:
855:
853:
850:
848:
845:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
828:
825:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
802:
801:
800:Digital media
798:
794:
791:
789:
786:
784:
781:
779:
776:
775:
774:
771:
769:
766:
764:
761:
759:
756:
754:
751:
749:
746:
744:
741:
740:
738:
736:
732:
728:
721:
716:
714:
709:
707:
702:
701:
698:
692:
689:
687:
684:
683:
674:
673:
672:Message Drums
668:
667:
659:
655:
651:
647:
643:
639:
632:
616:
612:
610:
606:
601:
594:
587:
583:
582:
576:
569:
563:
556:
551:
549:
540:
536:
529:
522:
518:
512:
508:
507:
499:
491:
487:
483:
481:9781315406480
477:
474:. Routledge.
473:
466:
462:
451:
448:
446:
443:
441:
438:
436:
433:
431:
428:
426:
425:Communication
423:
422:
415:
413:
409:
405:
401:
400:stock phrases
396:
394:
390:
384:
382:
378:
374:
370:
366:
362:
357:
353:
346:
336:
333:
331:
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
302:
299:
295:
290:
287:
283:
273:
271:
266:
264:
260:
256:
250:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
218:
216:
212:
208:
200:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
177:
174:
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
150:
147:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
125:
122:
121:Côte d'Ivoire
118:
114:
111:
108:
104:
100:
96:
92:
89:
86:
82:
78:
75:
74:
73:
70:
68:
61:
51:
49:
45:
41:
40:communication
37:
33:
26:people tamtam
25:
21:
1459:Multiplexing
1334:Transmission
1299:Nikola Tesla
1289:Henry Sutton
1244:Samuel Morse
1174:Robert Hooke
1139:Amos Dolbear
1074:John Bardeen
993:
973:Telautograph
877:Mobile phone
832:Edholm's law
826:
815:social media
748:Broadcasting
670:
641:
637:
631:
619:. Retrieved
605:James Gleick
603:
593:
585:
580:
575:
567:
562:
554:
538:
528:
520:
505:
498:
471:
465:
445:Talking drum
397:
385:
367:lengths and
358:
354:
348:
345:Talking drum
334:
310:talking drum
303:
291:
279:
267:
251:
242:
224:
204:
195:Burkina Faso
178:
155:of northern
148:
143:Burkina Faso
133:of northern
126:
112:
105:and eastern
94:
90:
76:
71:
64:
60:Talking drum
29:
1659:NPL network
1371:Radio waves
1309:Alfred Vail
1219:Hedy Lamarr
1204:Dawon Kahng
1164:Elisha Gray
1124:Yogen Dalal
1049:Nasir Ahmed
983:Teleprinter
847:Heliographs
621:12 February
330:slave trade
328:during the
306:West Africa
282:Catuquinaru
270:Bulu people
247:drum sticks
217:(Senegal).
163:, northern
50:functions.
1792:Categories
1705:Antarctica
1664:Toasternet
1586:Television
1069:Paul Baran
1001:Television
985:(teletype)
978:Telegraphy
956:transistor
934:Phryctoria
904:Photophone
882:Smartphone
872:Mass media
490:1033693900
457:References
343:See also:
298:New Guinea
227:slit gongs
221:Slit gongs
44:ceremonial
34:living in
1689:Americas
1678:Locations
1649:Internet2
1410:Bandwidth
1114:Vint Cerf
1011:streaming
989:Telephone
929:Semaphore
820:streaming
440:Slit drum
351:profiles.
326:Caribbean
286:cambarysu
276:Cambarysu
239:Tok Pisin
67:hourglass
48:religious
1757:Category
1644:Internet
1634:CYCLADES
1551:Ethernet
1501:Concepts
1425:terminal
1376:wireless
1199:Bob Kahn
1042:Pioneers
867:Internet
758:Cable TV
615:Archived
418:See also
365:syllable
361:stresses
324:and the
231:resonate
173:Cameroon
36:forested
32:cultures
24:Bamileke
1777:Commons
1767:Outline
1720:Oceania
1639:FidoNet
1624:ARPANET
1437:circuit
1006:digital
735:History
408:proverb
383:alone.
322:America
314:Nigeria
263:rhythms
243:garamut
183:Songhai
157:Nigeria
149:Kalangu
131:Dagomba
103:Nigeria
95:Dun Dun
91:Gan gan
85:Senegal
1715:Europe
1685:Africa
1669:Usenet
1629:BITNET
1566:Mobile
1442:packet
951:MOSFET
946:device
743:Beacon
658:895685
656:
570:(1898)
513:
488:
478:
393:melody
389:rhythm
294:Africa
215:Mbalax
197:, and
99:Yoruba
1803:Drums
1698:South
1693:North
1654:JANET
1591:Telex
1581:Radio
1420:Nodes
1415:Links
1336:media
914:Radio
899:Pager
827:Drums
793:video
788:image
778:audio
654:JSTOR
412:motif
318:Ghana
308:(see
259:notes
255:tuned
207:music
199:Niger
187:Zarma
179:Doodo
169:Benin
165:Ghana
161:Niger
153:Hausa
139:Mossi
135:Ghana
127:Lunna
113:Dondo
107:Benin
81:Wolof
54:Types
1710:Asia
1596:UUCP
1556:ISDN
623:2012
511:ISBN
486:OCLC
476:ISBN
435:Gong
430:Drum
404:Jabo
391:and
369:tone
316:and
280:The
211:Jùjú
191:Mali
185:and
171:and
117:Akan
77:Tama
46:and
1601:WAN
1571:NGN
1561:LAN
842:Fax
783:DCT
646:doi
292:In
241:as
189:of
141:of
101:of
83:of
1794::
652:.
642:20
607:.
602:.
584:,
547:^
537:.
519:.
484:.
363:,
296:,
193:,
167:,
159:,
137:;
93:,
1728:)
1724:(
719:e
712:t
705:v
660:.
648::
625:.
541:.
492:.
201:)
181:(
175:)
151:(
145:)
129:(
123:)
115:(
109:)
97:(
87:)
79:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
