we belong to sound
Murray Schafer, from "Open Ears" (in 2003's The Auditory Culture Reader):
The Latin word audire (to hear) has many derivations. One may have an 'audience' with the king--that is, a chance to have him hear your petitions. One's financial affairs are 'audited' by an accountant, because originally accounts were read aloud for clarity. An accused person is given a 'hearing,' that is, a chance for the accused and witnesses to offer aural testimony in the courtroom. Of course, rooms are often constructed or appointed to favour the transmission of some voices over others, and the courtroom, like the royal court, is no exception, with the judge as the king occupying the most elevated position, reminding us that the Latin word obaudire meant 'hearing from below'--obeying. Similar relationships have been noticed in other languages, for instance in German, where horen (to hear) is also the root of gehoren (to belong to) and gehorchen (to obey). We hear sound. We belong to sound. We obey sound. (30).