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1. 

   Hi Shannon,

   Thanks for a great post. Here are my guesses:
   Bag 1: cellphone and keys. Not sure about the third and fourth item
   Bag 2: food (a treat for both you and Obi) and a poo bag.

   In Part 4 of your reflection, you explore the concept of “sounds as a language” and being literate in sound. This idea is fascinating and holds significant potential, though I struggled with fully grasping its connection to meaning-making (without other contextual clues).

   Take, for instance, the sound of a car horn. At first glance, it might seem straightforward, but there is a layer of complexity in how we interpret it. Yes, we can derive meaning from the sound of a car horn, and much of this meaning is contextual. For example, a short beep might be a friendly gesture, a warning to a pedestrian, or a signal to another driver. In contrast, a prolonged honk could express frustration or alert others to an urgent situation. The context in which the horn is used significantly influences its interpretation.

   Moreover, cultural contexts play a vital role. In some cultures, honking might be a routine part of driving communication, while in others, it might be considered rude or aggressive. These nuances underscore the importance of understanding the situational and cultural context to fully grasp the meaning behind the sound.

   Additionally, the type of car might also provide clues about the sound of the horn. Luxury cars, for example, often have more melodious, softer horns, whereas trucks or larger vehicles might have louder, more commanding sounds. This can offer further layers of meaning and interpretation.

   Your example of bird calls is equally compelling. Ornithologists and bird enthusiasts can indeed identify bird species based on their calls, which is a testament to their literacy in the language of bird sounds. However, the question remains: does it stop there? Can we go beyond identification and understand the content of their communication?

   To truly make meaning of what birds are ‘saying,’ we would need to delve into their communicative purposes—be it alerting others to danger, signaling the presence of food, or attracting a mate. Understanding these communicative contexts would enrich our literacy in the language of bird sounds, enabling us to decipher their ‘messages’ more comprehensively.

   Considering the framework proposed by the New London Group (1996) in “A pedagogy of multiliteracies: Designing social futures,” this approach aligns well with the concept of multiliteracies. It emphasizes the need for a broad and inclusive understanding of literacy that extends beyond traditional texts to include diverse modes of communication, such as sound. By being literate in sound, we can enhance our ability to make meaning in various contexts, thereby enriching our communicative competence and cultural awareness.

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     Hi Carol,
     Great points about the importance of understanding the situational and cultural contexts to fully grasp the meaning behind a sound. You’re absolutely right that a sound – even a car horn may have different meanings (and interpretations) if I do a “half honk” vs. a “lay on the horn honk”. This makes me wonder about fluency and when someone says they’re fluent in a certain language, I guess this does not necessarily include the sounds or customs of another nation. I’ve never heard anyone state “I am proficient in this country’s customs” so it’s interesting how it’s clearly something that can be learned and that we can become familiar and “fluent” in, but that we don’t consider on the same level as language.