Soundscape Research in Multicultural Market Areas - Example of Berlin Kreuzberg Özlem Gök Tokgöz 1 Institute of Acoustics and Speech Communication, TU Dresden, Germany Helmholtzstraße 18, 01062 Dresden André Fiebig 2 Institute of Fluid Dynamics and Technical Acoustics, TU Berlin, Germany Einsteinufer 25, 10587 Berlin

ABSTRACT Market areas are places where sellers and buyers come together periodically. Throughout its history, market areas have always been places that allow rich cultural interaction. At those places usually, people from different cultural backgrounds and speaking different languages come together. Due to this rich cultural and social potential promoting social relations, it has been the subject of many studies from different disciplinary points of view. However, no study deals in detail with the soundscape of those areas where the human voice is often the main sound source and leads to unique acoustic environments. The study determines the role of market area soundscapes by means of user assessments and acoustic measurements. A field study was carried out in market areas in Berlin Kreuzberg. This district is a culturally diverse and multilingual area and in the street markets many products, mainly fruit and vegetable sales, are sold. In this study, comparative sound measurements and surveys were conducted. The field survey, which was held in Turkish, German, and English language, was applied to the group of sellers and buyers. The soundscape of these areas including its perception was systematically investigated and the role of sound as a mediator between cultures explored .

1. INTRODUCTION

Market areas can be defined as sellers and buyers coming together periodically. A market area uses urban spaces determined by the authorities at regular intervals.[1] These areas, whose history goes back many years ago, appear in different forms in different geographies and cultures. Market areas have many different names from history to the present such as “street market, flea markets, periodical market, weekly market, bazaar, public market, traditional market.” They are named according to the type of product sold, installation period, duration, and location. Although their names change, their function of bringing together buyers and sellers remains the same.

Market areas have always been places that allow rich cultural interaction throughout their history. Social, religious, and political relations are established and interactions take place in these places. It is used not only for shopping but also for social purposes. Due to this rich cultural and social potential,

1 oezlem_goek.tokgoez@mailbox.tu-dresden.de 2 andre.fiebig@tu-berlin.de

it has been the subject of many studies like economics, sociology, urban, linguistics, and many cultural studies. In these places, people from different cultures speaking different languages come together. Due to this rich cultural and social potential that encourages social relationships, these markets are seen as cultural.[2]

The acoustic character of market areas is also unique. In these areas, human based sounds are the main sound source. All sounds such as speaking in different languages, singing, shouting, music, human steps and movements are heard in these places. Street vendor`s cries are seen as a cultural soundscape.[3] And UNESCO has specified that the detection and protection of acoustic environments such a culturally important area are necessary. [4]

The acoustic character of the market areas is also different from each other. Within the scope of the study, especially the markets where fresh fruits and vegetables are sold, and which are established weekly and temporarily are discussed. In this study, it is aimed to determine and evaluate the soundscapes of market areas where different cultures interact. It was searched for the opinions of the users on cultural and social issues about the market areas, the acoustic environment evaluations, the effect of the cultural point of view on this evaluation, and the soundmarks of these market areas. In the study, first, social interactions and acoustic character in the market areas are explained, then measurements, survey studies, and findings are discussed.

1.1. Social Interactions in Market Areas

Market areas are important public spaces that provide access to differences, diversity, openness, cultural transfer, and communication. The diversity of social relations established in market areas makes these areas special. Watson defined different forms of sociability through market areas.[5], [6] The forms of sociability in market areas are defined as ‘Rubbing Along’, Inclusive Sociality, Theatre, and Performance, Mediating Differences (see Fig. 1).

Different forms of sociability in market areas

`Rubbing Along ´ Inclusive Sociality

Mediating Differences

Theatre and Performance

Figure 1: Different forms of sociability in Watson`s for market areas [5], [6]

` Rubbing Along´ means in marketplaces people share limited spaces. People become aware of other people, they know to see and be seen.[6] There is a minimum level of interaction and sharing, between the seller-buyer or the buyer-buyer. People are in a space where you can hear different opinions, and thoughts, because of sharing the limited space and keeping in close contact. Inclusive Sociality expresses the potential of meeting with different age groups, different genders, different ethnic groups, and disadvantaged segments of the society from all walks of society. Everyone is visible to each other. Theatre and Performance are related to the presentation and transmission that the seller puts into selling the product. The seller uses different identities to sell the product and uses many visual and auditory elements to attract the attention of potential buyers. Mediating Differences mean that with the global migration, the markets are now more multicultural. People from different cultures bring things of their own culture to the markets. Cross-cultural exchange is easier. There is a communication that makes the differences visible.

Different types of relationships in market areas

Spatial temporary flexibility and

Different

Inclusive Sociality and

Alternative way of shopping Social meaning

forms of communication

diversity

continuity

Figure 2: Different types of relationships that Uzgören defines for market areas [7]

Uzgören classified the relationships that a person establishes with market areas into five groups.[7] (see Fig. 2) Inclusive Sociality and Diversity covers Watson's approach Inclusive Sociality and Mediating Difference headers. Different forms of communication are related to markets and allow different types of relationships between people. Although it is thought that there is an economic relationship based only on the buyer-seller relationship in the markets, Uzgören emphasized different relationships such as socializing, seeing, and talking to people. Spatial temporary, flexibility, and continuity are mentioned as the spatial characteristics of the market areas. Most of the markets are set up on the streets, which are public spaces. The benches where the products are placed and the ease of placement of the top cover on them enable these markets to be set up easily. Easy installations also contribute to the dynamic, flexibility, and continuity of these temporary areas. Alternative ways of shopping relate to the fact that the economic relationship formed between the buyer, the seller, and the market resident contains more potential. In market areas, different people are visible to each other, unlike the shopping culture created by online shopping sites and shopping malls. It has an important role in the formation of trust-based shopping activity.[7] Social Meaning focuses on the fact that market areas mean different things to people. In many studies where people are asked about their reasons for preferring markets, reasons such as access to fresh vegetables and fruits, socialization, product diversity, and cultural presence emerge.[7]–[9]

Social interactions also contribute to the richness of the acoustic environment in these areas. A basic classification has been made of the acoustics of market areas by making use of the classifications on social relations.

1.2. Acoustics Characteristics of Market Areas

The acoustic character of market areas is affected by many different factors such as human densities [10], site selection, and the products sold. By making use of the different ways of social relations and sociability in the literature, the reflections of these relations on the acoustic environment of the market areas have been considered.

Inclusive sociability and mediating differences bring together very different cultures, languages, people from different segments of society, and different age groups in market areas. (see Fig. 3)

Figure 3: The effect of inclusive sociability and mediating differences on the acoustic environment

• Hearing different voices • Diversity in human voices, children, adults • Hearing conversations in different languages

Inclusive Sociality and

Mediating Differences

diversity

Market areas have a different character because it is a place where many speeches in different languages can be heard at the same time, and even different languages are mixed and used with each other. For this reason, there are studies classified as cultural heritage.[11], [12]

Different

‘Rubbing Along´ • Market areas have own soundscape • Soundmarks of market areas • Speech, singing, laughter...

forms

Theatre and Performance

of communication

Figure 4: The effect of different forms of communication on the acoustic environment

All the speech, jokes, and shouts that the sellers make to attract the attention of the buyers constitute the acoustic character of the market areas. (see Fig. 4) These shouts of the sellers, which are a part of the acoustic character of these areas, can be understood as soundmarks of these areas. With 'Rubbing Along' in these places, personal boundaries are reduced. It is possible to talk and communicate with sellers, and other people who are interested in the same product.

• Not seeing market place-borne sounds as noise due to cultural background • Find market areas sound pleasantness

Alternative way of shopping

Social meaning

Figure 5: The effect of social meaning on the acoustic environment

Social meaning and psychological relationships established by people change the perception of the acoustic environment. Seeing different people or acquaintances and socializing can make the sound and its perception in these areas different. For this reason, the social meaning must be taken into account. (see Fig. 5)

• Sounds generated when preparing and collecting benches • Space form and formation affect sounds. • People densities change in different time

Spatial temporary flexibility and

continuity

Figure 6: The effect of spatial temporary flexibility and continuity on the acoustic environment

The markets, especially the fruit and vegetable markets, including the market area covered in the study, are established on the streets once or twice a week. The benches and top covers, which start to be installed early in the morning, are dismantled again in the evening. In these areas, where the bench, top cover, and products come with the same truck, the sounds of trucks, installation and dismantling dominate especially in the morning, and evening hours.

2. MATERIALS AND METHOD

Within the scope of the study, acoustic measurements and a field survey were carried out.

2.1. Field Area

Berlin Kreuzberg, which is a multi-cultural region today, was chosen as the study area. This area is a multi-cultural area that brings together people from many different cultures. In the market area, a large part of the sellers and buyers are of Turkish origin. In the 1960s, many Turkish guest workers moved to Kreuzberg due to favorable rents close to the Berlin wall. [13] For this reason, this area also has a social meaning for Turkish origin people. Many of the Turkish migrants now feel at home in Kreuzberg.[14]

Figure 7: Berlin Kreuzberg - Market areas (photos taken by author at 17 th September 2021)

In figure 7, photographs taken in the area are shown. In this market area, the market, where mostly fruit and vegetables are sold, takes place twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays. It serves between 10.00 in the morning and 18.30 in the evening.

2.2. Measurements

Audio recordings were taken from 24 different points in the study area. The audio recordings were taken between 11 am to 2 pm on 12 November 2021. The measurement duration was 3 minutes as proposed in the ISO/TS 12913-2 [15]. Audio recordings were made with the binaural recorder SQuadriga II, omnidirectional and binaural. Measurement points were chosen within the market area, along 8 points determined at 50 m distances, by taking 3 measurements in each views. The range of A-weighted equivalent continuous sound pressure level (L Aeq ) was from 59.5 to 69.8 dB(A). The measured L Aeq values are given in Figure 8. In addition, the distance between the measurement location and walls and other main reflective surfaces was at least 1 m, and the height of the microphone was in the range of 1.2 m to 1.5 m.

85

Sound pressure level (dB(A))

80

75

70

65

60

55

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Measurement Points

Figure 8: Measured A-weighted sound pressure level L Aeq with three measurements per

measurement point

To show the acoustic character of the market area, the FFT vs Time graph of two sound recordings is shown (see Fig. 9). It was observed in the market area that the sellers shouted (the words shouted is repeated at certain intervals), clap their hands, or banged on their counters to attract the attention of the buyers.

(a)

(b)

Figure 9: FFT vs. Time (A-weighted) shows sellers clap their hands or banged on their counters

(a) and shouted (b)

2.3. Survey Study

The survey study carried out in the market area, was prepared into two categories focusing on sellers and buyers. Considering the multicultural character, the questionnaires were prepared in 3

languages, German, English, and Turkish. The survey was prepared in three parts. The first part is related to personal information, the second part is about the usage of the market area and the last part is about the perception of the acoustic environment. Questions about the acoustic environment are common in both surveys (sellers, buyers). The last part has been created according to the questions stated in ISO-12913-2.[15] In Table 1, the survey structure is explained.

Table 1: The Survey structured, and questions

Sellers Buyers 1.Personal information Q1 :Age/gender

2.Questions About Usage Q2: How many years have you been doing this job? Q3: What kind of sounds (sound sources) do you associate with street markets? Q4: What are you doing to make visitors aware of your products? Q5: Do you feel tired or uncountable after working here all day?

Q2: What are the reasons to visit/go street markets for you? Q3: What are your thoughts on street markets? Q4: What kind of sounds (sound sources) do you associate with street markets? Q5: How often do you visit this place?

3.Questions About Acoustic Environment

Q6: To what extent do you presently hear the following four types of sound? Q7: How loud is here? Q8: How unpleasant is it here? Q9: How would you describe the present surrounding sound environment? Q10: To what extent is the present surrounding sound environment appropriate to the present place? Q11: For each of 8 scales below, to what extent do you agree or disagree that the present surrounding sound environment is…?

3. OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1. Survey Results

7 sellers and 5 buyers participated in this survey, which was conducted as a pilot study. The participants were aged from 25 to 74 years (6 males and 6 females, mean age = 41.5, standard deviation = 14.81).  The collected answers given by the sellers and buyers regarding the usage of the space are

summarized.

Sellers

In the survey with sellers, the interviewed people in the first open-ended question had been in this business for 10 years or more, except for two people who have been doing this job for 2 and 3 years. The sounds that the sellers associate with the market areas are the shouting of fruit sellers, human voices (speech), the sounds of loading and unloading cars, the sound of "Everything is 1 euro ", and the sound of carrying bags rustling. They declared that to attract buyers' attention successfully it is beneficial: to give discounts on products, give samples, smile, make short speeches, and joke. Only two of the seven interviewed sellers answered yes when asked if they felt tired or uncomfortable after working here all day. Most of them said they did not feel any discomfort or fatigue.

Buyers

In the survey with buyers, they stated that the reasons for preferring market areas are shopping, sightseeing, buying fresh products and that the market products are cheaper. In their thoughts about the markets, there were buyers who said that they had a pleasant time, found these places fun, and liked to bargain, and enjoyed bargaining and like to talk to sellers. Two of the Turkish buyers stated that they felt like they were in Turkey and that they came to visit the market areas even though they did not live in this area. They associated sellers shouting and speaking sounds with market areas. From the answers given to the question of how often do you visit this place and from the interviews, it was seen that there are people living in this region and coming regularly, as well as people coming from other places for the first time.

 The questions asked about the acoustic environment were equally evaluated by the sellers’ and

the buyers’ group. The answers given by 12 people in total were evaluated.

In the first part of the acoustic environment, questions are related to sound source identification. In this part, sound sources are grouped as traffic noise, other noise, sounds from human beings, and natural sounds and a 5-point scale was given for the people to choose.[15] Survey results are given in Figure 10. In this part, the participants found that sounds from human beings completely dominated.

Natural sounds (e.g. singing birds, flowing water, wild in

vegetation)

Sounds from Human Beings(e.g. conversation, laughter,

children at play, footstep)

Other noise (e.g.sirens, construction, loading of goods)

Traffic Noise (e.g. cars,buses, trains, air planes)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Dominates Completely Alot Moderately A little Not at all

Figure 10: Survey results to the question "To what extent do you currently hear the four types of

sounds?" The second question was about how loud this place was, and then how disturbing/unpleasant it was. For the question "How loud is there?" half of the participants said that it was moderately. Other people specified slightly and a lot 25% (3 people). (Figure 11 a)

For the other question is how unpleasant it is here, half of the participants said it is not at all unpleasant. The “Slightly” answer was given in 33% of the cases (4 people); the “Moderately” answer accounts for 17% (2 people). And no one finds this area unpleasant. (Figure 11 b)

Extremely

Extremely

How unpleasentis it

How loud is there?

Alot

Alot

here?

Moderately

Moderately

Slightly

Slightly

Not at all

Not at all

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

(a) (b)

Figure 11: Survey results to the question "How loud is there?” (a) and “How unpleasant is it

here?” (b)

The other question is related to how people describe the present surrounding sound environment. The participants described this environment, which is dominated by sounds from the human beings, as very good, (%8, 1 person), good (50%, 6 people) and neither good nor bad. (42%, 5 people). No one has given a bad or very bad answer. (Figure 12a) For the question "To what extent is the present surrounding sound environment appropriate to the present place?”, the participants gave the answers perfectly (17%, 2 people), very (25%, 3 people), moderately (50%, 6 people) and slightly (8%, 1 person). (Figure 12b)

Perfetly

Very Bad

Very

Bad

Neither good nor bad

(b)

Moderately

(a)

Good

Slightly

Very good

Not at all

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

(a) (b) Figure 12: Survey results to the question “How would you describe the present surrounding sound environment?” (a) and "To What extent is the present surrounding sound environment appropriate

to the present place?” (b)

The last question is about the perceived affective quality . In this part of the questionnaire eight adjective pairs and a 5-point scale as defined in the ISO/TS 129913-2 were given. For each adjective, it is asked to what extent you agree or disagrees this adjective describes the sound environment.[16] The answer options range from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”, the value given is between one and five. In this study, five is given to the strongly agree option, the value of 1 to the strongly disagree option, and the arithmetic average of the answers of the participants is taken over these values. The single arithmetic values of the eight attributes are displayed in Figure 13a.

Eventful

5,0

4,0

Vibrant

Chaotic

3,0

2,0

1,0

Pleasent

Annoying

0,0

Calm

Monotonous

Uneventful

(a) (b)

Figure 13: Survey results to the question “For each of 8 scales below, to what extent do you agree

or disagree that the present surrounding sound environment is…?” (a), Pleasantness and eventfulness values of the investigated market in the two-dimensional model according to ISO/TS

12913-3 (b)

EVENTFUL, ‘MoxoroNous ‘cant UNEVENTFUL,

The pleasantness value as defined in the ISO/ TS 12913-3 was found to be 𝑝= 0.71 and the eventfulness value as 𝑒= 4.96 . It is shown in a two-dimensional model in Figure 13b. It shows that the place is perceived as vibrant and exciting as a combination of pleasantness and eventfulness. Obviously, the marketplace is perceived as an eventful environment, busy with human activity. Market areas are a good example of areas where human activities are intense. According to these results, participants found this environment vibrant, pleasant, and eventful. In addition, the area is seen as calm, monotonous, and uneventful.

4. CONCLUSIONS

Market areas are important public spaces for the city as it brings together different segments of society, different age groups, and different cultures. In these areas, sounds from human beings are the main sound source, and different voices and speeches in different languages are heard. Especially in the Berlin Kreuzberg region, it was seen that these shouts were made in a mixed language in Turkish and German. It shows that the market areas also created their own language.

As a result of the study, it was seen that the participants were not disturbed by the acoustic environment in the market areas, on the contrary, many people found the soundscapes in this area pleasant. Due to the development and cultural value of the market areas from the past to the present, the shouting of sellers and theatrical performances in these areas are not disturbing and not seen as problematic. The shouting of the sellers or the performances for the sale are culturally important. It is also necessary to evaluate it within the context of intangible cultural heritage. Although each market area has an acoustic environment with a different character, it may be possible to categorize and classify it acoustically.

In the study, it was seen that the dialogue between the sellers and the buyers, especially the Turkish people, feel more comfortable in the market area and communicate easily. Expressions such as 'I felt like I was in Turkey', or 'Spending time in Berlin like in Turkey' are used in internet resources, in this area. Many local foods unique to Turkey are also sold in the market area. For this reason, people from other regions come here for touristic purposes. In addition, we can say that this area has a social and cultural meaning for Turks living in Germany.

The study will be extended and then repeated in different cultural areas. In the following studies, the change of people density, and the market installation and removal sections during morning and evening hours should also be taken into account. In addition, the extent to which cultural meaning and pleasantness are affected by other sound sources such as traffıc noise is an issue that should be investigated and taken into consideration in future studies. In particular, this might be important for local authorities to specifically protect those areas against noises jeopardizing the cultural value of those areas. 5. REFERENCES

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