Language is a very complex mechanism. It is commonly used by a group of people and
evolves over time. Language can also be broken down into parts: morphemes and phonemes.
Phonemes are the smallest part of word that has no meaning. To break a different mechanism
down into smaller parts and compare it to language it should be something as complex and
dynamic as any language is. Music has existed as long as language has. There are also as many
genres of music as there are manual and spoken languages. Music has evolved throughout the
years and been studied just as much as language has. Music is probably even used as commonly
as language is. Music can be broken down into smaller parts that help define what type of
music it is and the emotion of feeling it is attempting to convey. It also can be interpreted in
many different ways in the same way that language can be. For this reason I chose to break
down music into its smallest parts and compare it to one language, that of American Sign
Language.
Each song has a tempo to it, or the pace in which it is played. The general tempo types
range in order of slowest to fastest of: largo, larghetto, adagio, andante, moderato, allegro,
presto, and prestissiomo. Though each tempo has its own speed it has no meaning. A very slow
largo song doesn’t mean that it is definitely sad, melancholy, or a love ballad. And conversely a
quickly paced song that is prestissiomo doesn’t automatically put it in the happy, lively, or
dancing category. This could be compared to the movement parameter within a sign. The
tempo is simply the speed in which the song is played just as the movement of the sign is how
the hand moves. I also think that when there is a tempo change in a song; e.g. moderato to
allegro, this could compare to hold deletion. The combination of two signs is very similar versus
the combination of two tempos.
Another division of music is the instruments that are used. Instruments are extremely
diverse and wide ranging. Instruments can also be broken down into smaller segments though
based on type. Percussion instruments such chimes, xylophones, cymbals, and the vast types of
drums. Wind instruments range from bagpipes, flutes, clarinets, horns, and accordions. The
array of string instruments is just as immense. Each instrument has its own sound and its own
range of notes. They are each played in a different manner. But just because there is a violin
doesn’t mean that it is a classical song just as much as having a bass doesn’t make it a rock
song. To me the variety of instruments is comparable to the variety of locations in a sign.
Though many locations are similar and can be broken down into general regions they still are
unique for each sign and more specifically for each sentence it is used in. And just as locations
change sequentially within a sign, each instrument is played in a specific way that is important
to each song. Though a song can be played with only one instrument, like a piano or singing, it
isn’t until it is combined with a tempo and a melody that it actually has meaning.
Lastly each song has its own key signature and chord or note usage. Each chord, note, or
key has no meaning by itself. A single note sung, chord strummed, or tone tooted alone is
meaningless. This is comparable to handshape in sign language. To say a song is in the key of G
or C will tell you nothing of the song itself other than it uses the G sound on the notes
spectrum. To say a sign uses the G or C handshape tells you nothing except that specific
handshape will be seen within that sign.
There is also a link to music in minimal pairs the same way that language has them.
Comparing songs like “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie and “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla
Ice it can be seen that the only thing that is different between the two songs is the melody. The
tempo, tones, and instruments used are identical. The only difference is the way that the voice
is used in one song to the other. Where Vanilla Ice raps and portrays a feeling of being a
gangster Queen and David Bowie talk about life and how to struggle through it. Another
comparison is the remake of “Hurt” by Johnny Cash against the original “Hurt” by Nine Inch
Nails. The lyrics, instruments, and tempo are pretty much identical; the only difference is the
tone. N.I.N. wrote the song with an eerie undertone of dysfunction, but when Cash sings it
exudes feelings of immense sorrow of the struggle and painful life he has lived. In comparing
the band Apocalyptica against Metallica it can be seen a vast number of minimal pairs.
Apocalyptica is a Finnish band that is famous for playing the band Metallica’s songs using only
four cellos. In each song pair the tone, tempo, melody, and chord progressions are identical.
The difference is simply the instruments played. To the unknowing ear an Apocalyptica song
sounds like any other classical song. For those who know Metallica songs they will hear the
melodies once sung by James Hetfield being portrayed by a graceful cello.
Music and language are equally diverse. Both are fascinating and constantly evolving.
Just as the words “swag”, “YOLO”, and “meme” weren’t known or popular twenty years ago the
genres of Dubstep, Techno, and Indie were similarly unheard of. More similarities may exist
between both mechanisms. In comparing the two together it is seen how similar yet equally
versatile the two realms can be. In both the combinations are limitless.