In a groundbreaking study, researchers from various disciplines have discovered intriguing connections between music and language across different cultures. The team, consisting of 75 researchers including musicologists, psychologists, linguists, evolutionary biologists, and professional musicians recorded songs in 55 languages to investigate the origins of this universal human phenomenon.
Music has puzzled scientists for centuries. Charles Darwin was intrigued by mankind's ability to produce and enjoy melodies but couldn't explain its evolutionary advantage. He speculated that music might have evolved as a means to attract potential mates during courtship and rivalry among our ancestors.
However, other scientists like William James dismissed this idea, arguing that music is merely a byproduct of the nervous system with no evolutionary significance. The debate continues today as researchers explore new explanations for music's origins and nature.
In recent years, scientists have analyzed the acoustic properties of thousands of songs from various cultures to understand their commonalities and differences. In this study, all 75 researchers contributed by singing traditional songs from their own cultures. The results showed that across languages, songs share certain features not found in speech.
The rhythms of songs were generally slower than those in speech, while pitches were higher and more stable. These findings suggest that music might have evolved as a social bonding tool due to its predictability and regularity. The researchers also noted that musical history often diverges from language and genetic history, indicating alignment with other markers such as social organization.
The study provides strong evidence for cross-cultural regularities in music and language, shedding light on their shared origins and evolutionary significance.
