Examination of Soundscape-Quality Protocols in Japanese

When assessing perceived soundscape quality, the Swedish Soundscape-Quality Protocol (SSQP) seems to have become a de facto standard. While the SSQP was recommended as a tool for assessing the perceived quality of soundscapes in ISO/TS 12913-2, the translatability of the affective attribute scales into other languages has not been fully validated. This study examines soundscape-quality protocols in Japanese from several viewpoints. Findings are as follows: (1) the SSQP scales cannot be fully translated into Japanese without modifications; (2) pleasantness and eventfulness emerge as fundamental components in many situations; and (3) when assessing soundscape qualities, the meanings of some adjectives in the scales vary according to context.