The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) awarded Social psychologist Roza Kamiloğlu of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam with a Veni funding for her research: The sounds of everyday life: When voices feel right (or wrong). She will investigate the sounds we make beyond words.
Daily life is filled with human voices: laughter with friends, sighs of relief, screams of surprise, groans of frustration, and moans of pleasure. While these sounds are common, their appropriateness depends on the social and cultural context in which they are produced. Kamiloğlu uses in her project experience sampling and controlled experiments to map when different vocal expressions are welcomed or discouraged across cultures and social contexts. The findings will improve our understanding of how people use and interpret nonverbal cues to navigate diverse social environments.
Laughing, crying, sighing, panting, screaming and groaning
Roza Kamiloğlu's research is expected to gain significant insights about the sounds we make beyond words: laughs, cries, sighs, gasps, screams, and groans. These vocal expressions are fundamental to life: they are one of the first behaviours available to infants, who typically scream within seconds of birth. Similar nonverbal vocalisations are found across the globe and even shared with non-human animals. For instance, rats sigh with relief, and all great apes laugh when tickled.
Kamiloğlu: "As humans though, we have complex social rules governing these sounds. Laughter that feels natural at a café with friends might be considered inappropriate or even disrespectful at a funeral. A frustrated groan shared with a close friend might strengthen your bond, but could seem too intimate on a first date. Furthermore, what is welcomed in one culture might be considered rude in another. But how do we make sense of all this variation? My Veni research will map out these unwritten social norms, what I call "vocal display rules”, that guide when and where we should express (or hide) our emotions vocally across different cultures and contexts."
Contribution to science and society
Kamiloğlu aims to create the first systematic framework for understanding how and why vocal display rules vary across cultures and contexts. Despite vocalisations being central to human interaction, we are only beginning to scientifically understand these fundamental everyday behaviors. Practically, her findings can help people who struggle with these unspoken social rules, something we all navigate constantly but can be especially challenging in our increasingly globalised world. The findings can also inform the development of culturally and contextually sensitive voice-based technologies, improving how these systems produce and respond to human vocal expressions.
Roza Kamiloğlu responds on the news: "I screamed out with joy - quite fitting since my research is about vocal expressions like screams, laughter, and sighs! I am grateful to my supportive colleagues and excited that this everyday topic is getting the scientific attention it deserves."
Veni Grant
The Veni grant gives researchers the opportunity to conduct innovative, curiosity-driven research based on their own ideas. The program encourages creativity and contributes to the development of knowledge essential for the society of tomorrow. With a maximum grant of €320,000, NWO supports researchers from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds.
In awarding the Veni grant, NWO assesses the scientific quality and innovative character of the proposal, the expected scientific and societal impact, and the qualifications of the researcher. The Veni is intended for talented researchers who have recently obtained their PhD and represents an important step in an academic career. Together with the Vidi and Vici grants, the Veni forms part of NWO’s Talent Program.
