Drum+Communications

Early Communication [|drum communication outlawed] [|History of Telegraphy] media type="youtube" key="9dHzlPFUA1E" height="380" width="676" [|Drum Talk Is the African’s “Wireless”] Drum Communications In Africa, New Guinea and the tropical America, people have used drum telegraphy to communicate with each other from far away for centuries. When European expeditions came into the jungles to explore the primeval forest, they were surprised to find that the message of their coming and their intention was carried through the woods a step in advance of arrival. An African message can be transmitted at the speed of 100 miles in an hour[1].

Drum communication methods are not languages in their own right; they are based on actual natural languages. The sounds produced are conventionalized or idiomatic signals based on speech patterns. The messages are normally very stereotyped and context-dependent. They lack the ability to form new combinations and expressions.

When a drum is used in speech mode, it is culturally defined and depends on the linguistic/cultural boundaries. Therefore, communication suffers from translation problems as in vocal communication. There is no international drum language. Misinterpretations can occur due to the highly ambiguous nature of the communication.



media type="youtube" key="9dHzlPFUA1E" height="380" width="676" Abridged and adapted from: []
 * 1) What primitive cultures use drums for communication?
 * 2) What is drum telegraphy?
 * 3) What surprised early explores of the primeval forest?
 * 4) What is the basis of drum communication signals?
 * 5) What are two characteristics of the messages that can be sent using drum telegraphy?
 * 6) What are the problems with drum telegraphy?
 * 7) Did all cultures use the same drum patterns for communication?
 * 8) Why do misinterpretations occur?