Transcript Beautiful Question Project

BEAUTIFUL
QUESTION
PROJECT
By: Sabrina Schores
PHL 103
IS MUSIC A LANGUAGE THAT
NEEDS WORDS? OR DOES IT
COMMUNICATE THROUGH
OTHER MODES?

Through the course of this presentation we
will explore the multiple aspects of
language, with a large focus on music as a
language:


What exactly is a language?
What is a language composed of?
WHY THIS TOPIC INTERESTS ME
I believe that music is something that has the ability to bring
everyone together. Instead of using words and traditional languages
to communicate amongst ourselves, emotions and sounds are used to
portray a message. Languages have created cultural barriers
spreading us apart while music has the ability to create unity and
bring us all together.


Languages are how we communicate to one another and function
through our daily lives. They are a vital aspect of our survival. I
have personal experience with playing instruments and feel as if
music allows everyone to communicate on an even playing ground.
But how can we prove this?


Let’s harmonize and unify each culture and all of its diversities.
First, we have to identify the many aspects of language. This needs
to be done before exploring the actual language of music; if music
even qualifies as its own language.
SURVEY:


Using Survey Monkey I presented the public with
6 different questions regarding music and
language
Here is the link to the survey for anyone else who
would like to further their thought process on
language as well as the possibility of music as a
language
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GVWBMCK
 The six survey questions included:
 1. What is your definition of a language?
 2. What is a language composed of? (words, emotions
etc..)
 3. What influences your music choice? Pick all that
apply


4. Do you believe it is possible for people who speak
different languages to communicate though the same
type of music? Choose the best answer.


Yes, no, I don’t know
5. Is it possible to pass emotions back and forth with
sound? Choose the best answer.


Current mood, environment, it’s what I always listen to, life
events, other
Yes, no, I don’t know
6. Do you believe music has the ability to influence a
person’s mood and current emotions? Choose the best
answer.

Yes, no, I don’t know
ANALYSIS OF SURVEY:
Answer Choices – Responses –
–Current mood
–Environment
–It's what I
always listen to
–Life events
–Other
Total
Respondents:

100.00%
57.14%
42.86%
42.86%
0.00%

Question #3 asking
about the influences of
personal music choice
was the most largely
disputed question with
varying responses.
Everyone is entitled to
their own opinion and
people listen to music
for a variety of personal
reasons ultimately
influencing their music
choice
ANALYSIS:

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
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When asked about the definition of a language
people stated:
“Something people can use to express or define
something.”
“A language is communication between people, it can
be words or actions or pictures etc.”
Overall, people’s responses stated how language is
some type of communication and expression amongst
groups of people. This shows we all think relatively
the same about language as a whole in the sense that
it is communication amongst the same type of people.
But what about communication amongst multiple
diverse groups? This will be explored in later slides.
ANALYSIS:
When people described their thoughts on
the composition of a language they stated:
 “Words, nonverbal communication (eye contact,
hand motions, etc.), feelings, past experiences”
 “Language is composed of words, symbols,
actions, motions, and emotions”

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Overall, people feel language is made up of
anything from emotions to more tangible things
like written words. If this is the case then how is
music portrayed as a language? This will be
explored in later slides.
ANALYSIS:


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When people were asked if it was possible to pass
emotions and moods around with the sounds of music
the answer was unanimously YES.
This goes to show that higher communication, not
necessarily involving words, goes on between those
who listen to and create music.
Artists and musicians create music because they want
to portray a message and share it with others.
Sometimes music is created in response to other
forms of music allowing for an unspoken language
and form of communication to develop. With this
being said, does music create unity amongst
diversity? Does that qualify it as not only a
language but a universal language?
WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC THINK?


Through my survey and additional research
I have gathered that:
Many believe a language has the ability to communicate
through sound, mood and emotions giving music the ability
to be a unique language in itself.

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This point of view shows how the language of music exists. Sounds and
emotions can portray messages heightening communication amongst
groups of people.
Some people believe music is just something that enhances
languages but is not its own individual language.

To them, languages are only composed of words describing events and
emotions. External emotions such as body language just add to
languages and improve their overall presentation
WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC THINK?
(CONTINUED)

Others are not sure where they stand but believe emotions
are not only portrayed through spoken words but through
body language and overall demeanor of ones mood.

Mood and external language is an important way of proper
communication. When relying on strict spoken words a large amount
of the message may be lost. To them music may enhance a language
but is not a language in its entirety.
All of these points are valid. Everyone is
entitled to their own opinion but answers to the
overall questions of “is music a language that
needs words? Or does it communicate through
other moods?” will continue to be explored.

LETS TAKE A DEEPER LOOK…

Sigur Ros:
Icelandic pop-rock bank from, Reykjavik
 Active since 1994
 Known for their ethereal sound

They are a unique group of men who use forms of
communication in their songs that are universal
 They often compose songs using the language
they call, Vonlenska
 Vonlenska is a non-literal language that forms
unintelligible lyrics

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In Vonlenska there is no fixed syntax. It lacks
grammar, definite meaning and even distinct words
EXPLORING VONLENSKA:
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In this form of communication the focus is entirely on the
sound of language as opposed to the words and what they
directly tell you
Non emotive vocals and the use of melody and rhythm to
portray messages are what sets this group miles apart from
others
With extensive focus on mood and melody you are free to
interpret this music as you please
There is no right and wrong, no judgment, just freedom of
the mind to listen at its own luxury, you have the ability to
enjoy the music and all that it has to offer
When looking at Vonlenska, do you think music has the
abilities to break down the barriers of diversity and create
unity amongst diverse groups of people?

My personal thoughts say yes, music is interpretation of the sound
being heard through mood, melody and emotion. Those are things we
all understand and can relate to on a personal level unlike the harsh
words of reality separating us all from one another.
SIGUR ROS AND VONLENSKA:

http://stormur.sigurros.co.uk/

For a further look on
Vonlenska look at the
link above. There is a
video of their song
Stormur. Interpret it
at your own will,
remember there is no
right or wrong answer,
just emotions and
sound telling a story
FROM THE DESK OF A PHILOSOPHER:

During my research I came across:
Philosophy Forums: Music as a language
(Discuss your thoughts on music as a language)
 Multiple viewpoints were brought to my attention:

Instead of viewing music objectively, like a one-way street
between listener and composer, it is more of a conversation
 Musical chemistry is an element of passing “back and forth
emotion with sound, to form as one with other musicians on
a different plane” (Peace-monkey, Philosopher)
 Each genre is its own language made up of different styles,
standards and scales
 Music is a body language in the sense that it is auditory,
like speech but more so a movement, like a gesture. Our
body is an instrument

QUOTES FROM FAMOUS AND RESPECTED
INDIVIDUALS:
 "Music does bring people together.
It allows us to experience the same emotions.
People everywhere are the same in heart and
spirit.
No matter what language we speak, what color
we are,
the form of our politics or the expression of
our love and our faith,
music proves: We are the same."
~ John Denver ~
"I have my own particular sorrows, loves,
delights;
and you have yours.
But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love,
belong to all of us, in all times and in all places.
Music is the only means whereby we feel these
emotions
in their universality."

~ H. A. Overstreet (1894-1985) ~
ACCORDING TO THE DICTIONARY…

Official definitions of language found in the
Merriam-Webster online dictionary include:

“The words, their pronunciation, and the methods of
combining them used and understood by a
community”

“Audible, articulate, meaningful sound as produced
by the action of the vocal organs”
“A systematic means of communicating ideas or
feelings by the use of conventionalized signs, sounds,
gestures, or marks having understood meanings”

OVERALL ANALYSIS
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Look at the third definition displayed on the previous
slide, “A systematic means of communicating ideas or
feelings by the use of conventionalized signs, sounds,
gestures, or marks having understood meanings.”
This statement shows how a language does not have to
be spoken or written to be considered valid. Language is
able to show signs of understood meaning through
sounds, gestures and even emotions to be able to
properly relay a message and be considered valid.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
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Definition of music: “An art of sound in time that expresses
ideas and emotions in significant forms through the
elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.”
Definition of language: “A systematic means of
communicating ideas or feelings by the use of
conventionalized signs, sounds, gestures, or marks having
understood meanings”
How do these two definitions relate to one another?
OVERALL ANALYSIS
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Both language and music are forms of communication and are portrayals of the emotion at
hand. They both encompass various emotions, influence moods and have the ability to
stimulate a person’s thought process at that point in time. Each and every person
communicates through a language. No matter if that language is English, French, Spanish,
Sign-language or many others, nonetheless we are all communicating with one another. We
are not only speaking words but passing on emotions and giving off sound from our vocal
cords and displaying motions from our body language. Languages are passageways for
communication of people and their cultures. Music allows for effective communication
between people and their cultures but does so in ways foreign to the ordinary person. Music
does not need words to communicate and be considered a language, just sounds that
compromise mood, feelings and overall emotions.
Music has been proven to heighten a child’s developmental thought process, improve
depressive states of mind and be used for other therapeutic reasons. It allows us all to
communicate with one another without worrying about proper use of grammar and helps
us relay a feeling without the use of words. Because it has the ability to improve overall
lifestyle, trigger emotions, alter mood and give off a sound it is seen as its own language in
the sense that it allows us to effectively and efficiently communicate with each other. The
language of music is universal. It does not discriminate and is easily understood from
culture to culture. Even though spoken words in certain types of music may not be
understood universally, the mood and emotions portrayed by the music have the ability to
be universally comprehended.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, especially regarding musical preferences. That
does not hinder the fact that music has the ability to be widely understood and is used for
various forms of communication. The type of communication regarding music is judgment
free, there is no right or wrong, it is just music. Due to this factor, cultural barriers are no
longer present when music is taken into consideration. Everyone has the ability to
communicate through the language of music, no matter how experienced or unexperienced
they are musically. Enjoy the sounds your ears are capturing for they are things that all
people are hearing and interpreting quite similarly.
WORKS CITED:
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Koelsch, S., Gunter, T. C., Zysset, S., Lohmann, G., &
Friederici, A. D. (2002). Bach speaks: a cortical
“language-network” serves the processing of music.
Neuroimage, 17(2), 956-966.
Medina, S. L. (1990). The Effects of Music upon Second
Language Vocabulary Acquisition.
Merriam-Webster (2014). Encyclopedia Britannica Company.
Retrieved from http://www.merriam
webster.com/dictionary/language
Schores, S. (4/14/14). Survey Monkey. In Survey Monkey.
Retrieved 4/14/14, from
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GVWBMCK.
Sigur, R. (2013). Sigur Ros. In Kveikur. Retrieved 4/15/14,
from http://sigur-ros.co.uk/kveikur/.
Unknown (2014). Music as a language. Philosophy Forums.
Retrieved from
http://forums.philosophyforums.com/threads/music-asa-language-65392.html.