Etnofonías: patrimonio biocultural de México

The article proposes “ethnophonies” as a concept for examining the myriad relations that ethnic groups establish with their sonic environments, particularly when these are configured as forms of sonic capital and are culturally elaborated in different narrative forms that hold significance for the community. Ethnophonies depend on the human groups that produce, hear, and circulate them. They are constitutive of processes of ethnic identification, but, because they involve culture, nature, memory, and emotions, they should also be understood as a central dimension of the biocultural heritage of these communities, around which numerous cultural traditions are organized. The article reflects on the theoretical and practical relevance of the notion of ethnophonies for the study of diverse sonic practices.