ethnomusicology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “ethnomusicology” mean?
The academic study of music within its cultural and social contexts, focusing on the music of different ethnic groups, societies, and cultures.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The academic study of music within its cultural and social contexts, focusing on the music of different ethnic groups, societies, and cultures.
An interdisciplinary field combining musicology, anthropology, cultural studies, and sociology to understand the role, creation, meaning, and performance of music in human societies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The field's academic structure may vary between university departments (often in Music vs. Anthropology departments).
Connotations
Equally academic and specialised in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency in everyday speech in both regions, used almost exclusively within academic and cultural institutions.
Grammar
How to Use “ethnomusicology” in a Sentence
The ethnomusicology of [REGION/PEOPLE] (e.g., the ethnomusicology of the Balkans)Research/study/work in ethnomusicologyA professor/PhD in ethnomusicologyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ethnomusicology” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- One can ethnomusicologise about folk traditions, but the term is jargonistic and rare.
American English
- To ethnomusicologize (verb) is to apply the field's methods to a musical practice.
adverb
British English
- He approached the recording ethnomusicologically, focusing on context.
American English
- The collection was assembled ethnomusicologically.
adjective
British English
- Her ethnomusicological fieldwork took her to remote villages.
American English
- The program has a strong ethnomusicological component.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in course titles, research papers, department names, and academic conferences.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be mentioned when discussing someone's unusual university major.
Technical
Used within the specific field to denote the discipline, its methodologies, and scholarly output.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ethnomusicology”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ethnomusicology”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ethnomusicology”
- Using it to refer to the music itself ('I enjoy listening to ethnomusicology') rather than the study of it.
- Confusing it with 'ethnology' or general anthropology.
- Misspelling: 'ethnomusicology' (missing the 'o' after ethno-).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional musicology often focuses on the history, theory, and analysis of Western art music (e.g., Beethoven). Ethnomusicology studies all the world's musics, often oral traditions, within their cultural contexts.
While musical training is highly beneficial, the field is interdisciplinary. Many scholars come from anthropology or cultural studies, focusing on the social role of music rather than technical analysis.
No. While it began with a focus on non-Western and folk traditions, modern ethnomusicology also studies popular music, diaspora music, and contemporary musical practices in any society.
Participant observation (fieldwork), where the researcher lives within a community, learns and records its music, and interviews practitioners to understand music's meaning from an insider's perspective.
The academic study of music within its cultural and social contexts, focusing on the music of different ethnic groups, societies, and cultures.
Ethnomusicology is usually academic, technical in register.
Ethnomusicology: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛθnəʊˌmjuːzɪˈkɒlədʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛθnoʊˌmjuzɪˈkɑːlədʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ETHNO (relating to people/culture) + MUSIC + OLOGY (study of) = the study of people's music.
Conceptual Metaphor
MUSIC AS A CULTURAL DOCUMENT/TEXT (to be 'read' and interpreted within its social setting).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of ethnomusicology?