The Sound of a Kiss: acoustical, musical, phonetic and symbolic aspects

Kissing is a multifaceted physical act involving gestures, facial expressions, and distinctive sounds. When produced by an individual alone, kissing sounds are typically ingressive, generated through techniques such as lip pursing combined with intra-oral suction maneuvers and sometimes inhalation, resulting in high-frequency squeaks. Perceptually, kiss sounds are generally unpitched and have a short duration. These sounds convey a range of affectionate emotions, primarily associated with appreciation and seduction. Moreover, they serve as a significant tool for communication among humans and even between humans and animals, as exemplified by "ConKisses," a type of animal call that mimics kiss-like sounds to address other animals. In the musical domain, numerous compositions incorporate kiss sounds, highlighting their cultural significance. Similar techniques are also used in playing wind instruments, such as ingressive sounds in trumpets and slap-tonguing attacks in saxophones. From a psychological perspective, kissing sounds may originate in the early stages of mammalian development, such as the breastfeeding phase. Despite their pervasive presence in art, life, and communication, the acoustics of kissing have received limited scientific attention. This study aims to investigate the origins, applications, and acoustic characteristics of kissing sounds, proposing a generative model to improve our understanding of this phenomenon.