What Causes the ‘Murmur’ of a Crowd Waiting?

A crowd murmurs because everyone is talking at the same time. It’s like when you're in a big room with your friends, and all of you start chatting together, it sounds like one big sound wave! People don’t usually talk loudly or clearly when they’re waiting, so their voices blend into a soft background noise that feels calm and peaceful.

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Examples

At the cinema, people talk quietly while waiting for the lights to go out, it sounds like a calm, musical hum.
In a big school hallway before lunchtime, all the students are whispering at once, and it feels like one giant soft voice.
When you’re in line for ice cream on a hot day, everyone is chatting softly, making a gentle background sound.

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Categories: Culture · crowds,acoustics,behavioral patterns