A creaking floorboard at night wakes a householder. Barthes' level:

1. The first level of listening is alerting. 2. It involves detection of environmental sound cues. 3. An unfamiliar sound, like a squeaking floorboard, alerts the occupant to possible danger. 4. So the householder's listening is at the alerting level. **Why not the others:** Deciphering means reading patterns in sounds, understanding concerns the effect of words, and rehearsing is a listening barrier. _Source: Wikipedia, "Listening", section "Process of listening" (revision 1373457535)_