Music - Universal Language

Vietnamese-German University
Class: ACADEMIC WRITING 2

Topic:
Music:
Universal Language
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. TRAN NGOC TIEN

STUDENT NAME:
Nguyen Tran Hoang Phuc
10323023
BINH DUONG PROVINCE - April, 2024
Introduction
Over the past few decades, music has never stopped attracting public
attention. Many people believe that music is not a natural kind. Indeed,
according to the common dictionary definition of music—“The art of
combining the sounds of voices or musical instruments to achieve beauty
of form and expression of emotion.” Many people adopt a view that
music should be recognized as a universal language in the world because
it brings many values related to emotions, culture and therapy. This is
also the premise for what Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote: "Music
is the universal language of mankind". “I started to see all the studies
that made claims about music being universal. How is it that every paper
on music starts out with this big claim but there’s never a citation
backing that up … Now we can back that up” - Samuel Mehr (Jed
Gottlieb, 2019). Therefore, this comprehensive statement focuses on
presenting the benefits, effects and consequences of music to make a
strong case that music deserves to be a universal language across the
globe.
1) Cultural Values
One of the most persuasive reasons promotes music to become a
global language is its cultural value. Especially, the culturally important
aspect of music that makes it a universal language is its transmitting
ability such as emotions and stories that are related to a particular
culture. For instance, African musicians often use polyrhythms and “call
and response” techniques to reflect African shared values and oral
traditions. It is published that African music “is integrated into every
aspect of social life, reflecting the values, beliefs, and experiences of the
community” (Chernoff, 1979). Additionally, Indian musicians apply the
concept of raga (melodic framework) and tala (rhythmic cycle) in the
classical kind of music to serve as a means to express the rich tapestry of
human emotions, from love and longing for joy and sadness. Moreover,
music not only plays an integral part in creating but also helps to
preserve a country's culture. To illustrate this idea, music has been
recognized as a tool to conserve Ireland’s cultural heritage. As observed
before, "Irish music embodies the spirit of the people, connecting them
to their roots and instilling a sense of pride in their cultural heritage"
1
(Glassie, 1982) so that Irish culture and tenacity when facing adversity
or challenges are expressed through music powerfully. In addition,
music catalyzes intercultural exchange and understanding. In the novel
era, globalization is prioritized, some genres of music like jazz, hip hop
and pop have broken the cultural barriers between some countries to
blend diverse cultural influences and foster cross-cultural dialogue.
Moreover, music serves as a catalyst for intercultural exchange and
understanding. For instance, the Latin American beats are mixed with
African rhythms in Afro-Cuban jazz, which illustrates the potential of
music in cultural integration. It is a breakthrough for music to outstrip
barriers of linguistics or culture. Everything was perfectly blended from
the rhythm, melodies or meters which included the values, culture and
emotions of diverse nations. Music not only plays a large important role
in conveying emotions, preserving cultural identities but also is a
testament to the rich tapestry of human diversity and creativity.
2) Healing Therapy
Music has appeared since ancient times and developed over several
millenniums. It become an effective tool in healing therapy instead of
mere entertainment. Many sociological studies have shown that music
has merits in therapeutic settings such as reducing stress, promoting
emotional well-being. Music therapy also offers a holistic approach to
healing which supports conventional treatments. One of the remarkable
merits of music in healing therapy is the potential to reduce stress levels.
Especially, listening to music can calm the body and mind, which helps
maintain heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol levels. For instance, a
study was published that music intervention significantly reduced
anxiety levels in patients using treatment (Li et al., 2012). Additionally,
music has been proved to have an impact on controlling pain. Typically,
the combination of rhythm and melody can help patients to forget their
pains and be more optimistic. It was published that music therapy
effectively alleviated pain and promoted relaxation in patients
recovering from surgery (Good et al., 2013). Moreover, improving
emotion and increasing the life quality are some benefits related to
music therapy. A large number of emotions can be expressed by music
such as happiness, joy, nostalgia and sadness. It is analyzed that music
therapy is useful in improving an individual’s mood and social function
2
when they get depression issue (Aalbers et al., 2017). Therefore,
depressed patients can express their emotions in a supportive
environment through listening to music, writing songs,...Additionally,
this kind of therapy not only brings benefits to emotion but also
enhances cognitive function and develops neuroplasticity. Especially,
playing musical instruments and engaging in singing groups can prompt
many parts of the brain which are related to saving memory, and paying
attention. The therapeutic advantages of music are proved and published
by scientific research. It attempts a versatile and holistic approach to
healing that can support the general public of all ages and circumstances.
3) Emotional Advantages
It is noteworthy that languages and music are indispensable in the
resident's walk of life. Many studies have shown that although it is
invisible, music is one of the best inspirations for people to have a high
productivity in work. For example, listeners can easily understand the
message that the producer put in, through the lyrics. Moreover, the
general public can also use the music to reveal their feelings even when
it is difficult to say directly. Especially, "Music provides a nonverbal
means of communicating emotions and experiences, allowing
individuals to express themselves authentically and without inhibition"
(Levitin, 2006), music allows humans to illustrate their feelings and
experiences through sound and melody, it also helps them to express
themselves the difficult verbal confide. Furthermore, it is possible for
music to modulate emotion and adjust mood states. It was published that
music listening plays an integral part in reducing pessimistic emotions
and raising relaxed feelings among humans (Saarikallio & Erkkilä,
2007). According to this study, listening to music can maintain a calm
heart rate, regulating respiration and brain activity. Moreover, engaging
in music like playing musical instruments or singing can help to raise an
awareness of emotion and empathy. In addition, music can catalyze
emotional regulation. Listening to suitable kinds of music can provide a
sense of comfort, and reduce stressors. Music brings humans various
merits in emotional expression, regulation and coping. Through all ways
of interacting with music, people can use it like a language to
communicate and interact with each other in the world.
3
Conclusion
In conclusion, music deserves to be a universal language that
resonates strongly across cultures, transcending linguistic barriers and
promoting emotional connection. Regardless of geographical location or
cultural background, music plays an important role in proving that the
general public is participating in a shared language that celebrates
common humanity. Music deserves to be called a universal language
because it it contains several merits, helps people to understand each
other mutually and binds us all, who live on the same planet.
REFERENCES:
CROSS, I. (2001). Music, cognition, culture, and evolution. Annals of the New
York Academy of Sciences, 930(1), 28-42.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb05723.x
Roy, William G.; Dowd, Timothy J. (2010). What is sociological about music?,
36(1), 183–203.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.012809.102618
Chernoff, John Miller. "African Rhythm and African Sensibility: Aesthetics and
Social Action in African Musical Idioms." University of Chicago Press, 1979.
https://doi.org/10.2307/469080
Li, X. M., Zhou, K. N., Yan, H., Wang, D. L., & Zhang, Y. P. (2012). Effects of
music therapy on anxiety of patients with breast cancer after radical
mastectomy: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of advanced nursing, 68(5),
1145-1155.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05824.x
Good, M., Albert, J. M., Arafah, B., Anderson, G. C., Wotman, S., DDS
(deceased), ... & Ahn, S. (2013). Effects on postoperative salivary cortisol of
relaxation/music and patient teaching about pain management. Biological
research for nursing, 15(3), 318-329.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1099800411431301
Aalbers, S., Fusar‐Poli, L., Freeman, R. E., Spreen, M., Ket, J. C., Vink, A. C., ...
& Gold, C. (2017). Music therapy for depression. Cochrane database of
systematic reviews, (11).
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004517.pub3
4
Levitin, D. J. (2006). The music instinct. This is your brain on music: the science
of human obsession. New York: Dutton, 240-61.
Saarikallio, S., & Erkkilä, J. (2007). The role of music in adolescents' mood
regulation. Psychology of music, 35(1), 88-109.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735607068889
Brittin, R. V. (1996). Listeners' Preference for Music of Other Cultures:
Comparing Response Modes. Journal of Research in Music Education.
https://doi.org/10.2307/3345445
Kiernan, F., & Davidson, J. W. (2022). How Can Music Engagement Address
Loneliness? A Qualitative Study and Thematic Framework in the Context of
Australia’s COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010025

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Vietnamese-German University

Class: ACADEMIC WRITING 2

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. TRAN NGOC TIEN

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