Noise is best defined contextually as any sound that obstructs intended communication

Evidence

Noise remains a not-clear concept that is used often to define every anthropogenic sound or and unwanted sound. We prefer such last definition because, for instance, if you wish to talk at a cell phone inside an exhibition of caged birds, immediately you realize it is not an appropriate location and it is not easy to communicate, although each bird produces a lovely song. — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology, 1241

Categorization

• DEFINE: Frames noise as communication-obstruction rather than purely ‘unwanted,’ using the cell-phone-in-bird-exhibition example.
• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source
• XREF: connects to: Noise means unused sound that degrades communication across media — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology: Principles,…, 1227; Noise is best defined as unintended or accidental sound rather than aperiodic sound — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1275; Noise is fundamentally subjective rather than an objective property of sound — Schafer, Murray R, The Soundscape- Our Sonic Environment…, 614 (+10 more)

Broader Connections

• Noise is defined relationally against the signal rather than acoustically #corroborates (0.85) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 405
• Noise is defined by its disturbing effect relative to a desired signal #corroborates (0.85) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 518
• Noise functions as a nonsign meaning the meaningless within communication systems #corroborates (0.85) — Fredric Jameson, Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic…, 342
• Soundscape quality depends on wanted-versus-unwanted context, not decibel level #corroborates (0.85) — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology, 1452
• Noise is fundamentally subjective rather than an objective property of sound #qualifies (0.80) — Schafer, Murray R, The Soundscape- Our Sonic Environment…, 614
• Noise is defined by annoyance, disturbance, or hearing harm rather than loudness alone #qualifies (0.80) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 70
• Any sound can function as noise depending on the listener #expands (0.80) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 2486
• Noise is defined as sound that annoys, disturbs, or risks hearing damage #qualifies (0.80) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 70
• Noise is best defined as unintended or accidental sound rather than aperiodic sound #corroborates (0.75) — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1275
• Whether a sound counts as noise depends on subjective interpretation, not acoustics #expands (0.75) — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology, 1025
• Lo-fi soundscapes erase the distinction between signal and noise #complicates (0.75)
• Cognitive context determines whether a sound feature is good or bad #corroborates (0.72)