But does the world listen? Some thoughts on communicative bonding between humans and the sounding world.

This article considers listening as an active component of the practice of social bonding. It reviews some recent accounts of listening, particularly those developed from an ecological perspective, and shows how listening and utterance work rhythmically in the bonding process. Recent findings from the neuroscience literature, concerning so-called mirroring systems are suggested as further underpinning for this process. Some theoretical ideas from aesthetics, particularly from the writings of Theodor Adorno, are then used to expand the notion of social bonding to include a process of bonding between people and the surrounding physical environment. In keeping with the views of Bruno Latour, Jane Bennett and others concerning the active participation of non-human forces in events, finally it is suggested that we consider the consequences for us of regarding the world as an active participant in a process of rhythmic bonding.