Modern

Bells Still Communicating

Today, bells and other “ringing” devices continue to communicate movement, space, location, and arrival. How do you use bells? Many families use a dinner bell at mealtime or to remind children their playtime is over. Horns on vehicles alert for safety. Hikers use bells to announce their presence to wildlife, in the hopes of averting a chance, and possibly dangerous, meeting. A belled cat alerts its place to nearby birdlife, and pointer dogs notify their owner of their location.

The Long Tradition of Bells

Where bells once served mainly agrarian peoples, today bells communicate to diverse audiences. The use of bells in current society reminds us of the tie between bells and the culture of animal husbandry, retelling the story of land, animals, and humans.