REDUNDANCY

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The repetition of information in a MESSAGE so that it becomes increasingly unlikely for mistakes to occur in its transmission or reception. Natural languages have a high rate of redundancy. English, for instance, is estimated to be 75% redundant; that is, sentences are 75% longer than if the alphabet were used as efficiently as possible for coding messages.

See: COMMUNICATION. Compare: NOISE.

By extension, many repetitive sounds may be found in the contemporary LO-FI soundscape, where their redundant character reflects their mechanical or electrical origin.

See: DRONE, HUM, KEYNOTE SOUND, STATIONARY SOUND.

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