Can Music Be Classified as a Language?
The unique ability of music to convey feelings, tell stories, and connect people transcends linguistic barriers. But can music truly be classified as a language?
The definition of language
Language, in its broadest sense, is a system of communication used to express ourselves. It consists of sounds and symbols, serving as a means for humans to interact with each other. Beyond that, it functions to express identity, play, conceptualise ideas, and release emotions.
Music as a communicative means
On a fundamental level, music shares many characteristics with language. Like language, it employs elements such as rhythm, melody, harmony, and dynamics to communicate ideas and emotions. In fact, “tonal” and “pitch-accent” languages, where verbally spoken words or syllables differ in pitch rather than in volume or length, rely on such arguably “musical” elements as a base for their communication.
Besides sound alone, one of the defining features of language is its expressive power. Have you ever heard a song and felt it was speaking to you? Similar to language, music has a unique ability to evoke a wide range of emotions and convey messages not just through lyrics but through a combination of musical elements that are able to resonate with listeners on a level often beyond words. Just as language has vocabulary and grammar rules, music has its own set of conventions governing melody, harmony, rhythm, and form. These structural elements provide a framework for musical expression and enable musicians to create coherent compositions that convey meaning.
When language isn’t shared, but music is: the role of lyrics
But lyrics are important, right? At least for some of us. As part of my university work placement back in 2019, I worked as a music practitioner with dementia patients in a gerontology centre in Prague, Czech Republic. Going into the job, not a single one of my patients spoke or understood English, and safe to say I was bricking it. But, I knew that my job was to use music to unite and bring joy, so I used the little Czech I knew to do the best I could. As the weeks went on, I realised that so many of my patients’ favourite songs were in English, such as those by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, ABBA and Boney M — but they had no idea what the lyrics were or what these songs were about.
So, I decided to do an exercise. I printed out a translation of the lyrics of some of their favourite songs, focusing on those with a positive message. Some examples were Yesterday by The Beatles and What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. And the result was beautiful. It was as if they were appreciating the song for the first time all over again. Seeing their faces and even some tears whilst reading the lyrics was so powerful, and it was then I realised the true interaction between the music and the message.
No comprendo: Spanish music
While understanding the lyrics may enhance our appreciation and interpretation of a song, the power of music transcends linguistic barriers. With over 19.4 billion audio streams in 2023, the consumption of Latin music is growing. According to Luminate’s 2023 music report, Spanish language music is the second most consumed in the English market. With artists such as Bad Bunny rising, it is clear that those of us who do not speak Spanish are still vibing to Spanish language music. So, does language not really matter? Do we really need to understand what we are listening to?
Many artists used to record two versions of their popular tracks — one in Spanish, one in English — in order to transcend the English speaking markets. But now, people are appreciating the original songs in all their foreign glory. The rise of streaming has helped push non-English language tracks to larger global audiences, where listeners have realised the power of music alone to speak to us, without having to understand the message it conveys.
Try listening to some of these popular English language tracks that have been re-recorded by the artist in Spanish. When dealing with translations like this, as I realised in my patient exercise, the message often differs as it is changed to fit with the syntax of the pre-existing music. So, does the song hit the same? Or is the enjoyment of Spanish music also tied to the cultural elements that come with the music?
Maybe it is those bodacious beats that get us all moving after all.
Music as a message or a message in the music?
But for some artists, the message in the music is central to their mission. With the recent release of the Bob Marley: One Love movie, it brings such artists to the forefront. The One Love Concert was held in April of 1978 during a during a political civil war in Jamaica, bringing together 16 big acts who united on conveying the same message. During Marley’s performance of Jamming, he joined the hands of two political rivals. This was a salient moment for both music and politics, where the real question is: Would this have happened in a government establishment, with words alone? Or did music truly facilitate this moment?
Language is deeply intertwined with culture, shaping identities, traditions and social interactions. Music, too, plays a vital role in cultural expression and identity. Different genres and styles of music reflect the diverse experiences, beliefs and values of various communities around the world. Through music, people celebrate, mourn, protest and communicate their shared cultural heritage. Here, reggae was the language of peace.
The takeaways
Whilst music shares similarities with language in its communicative power, expressive capacity and cultural significance, it also possesses unique qualities that set it apart from traditional systems. But regardless of classification, there is no denying the profound impact that music has on human communication, emotion and culture. Whether through melody, rhythm, or lyrics, music has the ability to transcend linguistic boundaries and speak to the soul in a language that is universal.
