Is music a language?

While talking about programming and language, xAlexBearx, teddypines and I had a discussion about whether music was actually a language. What are your thoughts? It's definitely arguable both ways.

 

I consider it a language.

 

it is a language.

 

Sí.

 

If information can be semi-accurately transmitted using it, then it is a language. On the most basic level, most songs send a general mood as their information.

 

As a person that plays two musical instruments and have been studying it for more than six years, I would argue against it not being a language.

Yes, I agree that both music and language are a method of communication.

However there is more to music than what it shares with language. First, music is for pure enjoyment and expression while language is not always for entertainment. Second, music can be shared with anyone; they don't have to know music to enjoy it. Third, not everyone can use music to communicate. On the other hand, languages are pretty easy to learn and communicate.

I think of music as art, where it expresses something but there is also something else that makes it beautiful.

Some music do not transmit information at all: music played by instruments without words.

Also this is the definition of language:
the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way.

 

1.I don't like that definition, as it ignores the function of language and things such as body language. It should be: a form of communication which two parties can use between each other to express an idea or information.

2. I like the idea of it more of as an art, as music is usually only one sided.

 

lan·guage
ˈlaNGɡwij/
noun

1. 1.
   the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way.
   "a study of the way children learn language"
   • 
     
     
2. 2.
   the system of communication used by a particular community or country.
   "the book was translated into twenty-five languages"
   
   It includes function in the definition, your still wrong.
   
   Music doesn't consist of any words in a structured and conventional way.
   

 

That doesn't matter. A lot of old languages used symbols to potray words, actions, or ideas. Just because music doesn't have words, doesn't mean it can't communicate an idea in another way. In music, we use symbols that communicate what they mean and their affect on music.

Even if someone denies the reasoning that music gives off a certain vibe that can communicate a certain mood or theme, that still doesn't make it any less a language. If you gave a person a piece of music that shows to use a pedal, they'll understand that they need to use the pedal, because that's communicated in a symbol(s). Music is universal, so a person
from any country can play that music piece or understand it.

 

Right but those symbols followed a convention. Music can communicate a feeling, but theres no convention to how its ordered.

 

If there's a note with a staccato, someone will immediately know they need to play it short and choppy. A vibe that a musical piece is creating is something that music is trying to communicate to everyone outside that 'language'. To the audience, which, doesn't speak in musical symbols. (Being played). If we're talking about a musician trying to communicate to another musician then the notes serve to portray an idea that the other musician would understand. (Using theory). In short, if we ignore feeling and just take a look at the notes and symbols, yes, they serve a convential use because they can pinpoint an idea that would be understandable.

Like music notes, which tell us what key to press on the piano.

 

Ok but written language is only one part of it. "spoken" music (obviously not spoken but you get the point...) follows no convention, theres no grammar or order to it, its entirely abstract. Thats why its an art, not a language. I'm not saying there are no parallels but I music doesn't serve the same purpose and doesn't function in the same way.