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Both music and language have a lot of similarities: They involve complex sequences that unfold in time. They are both forms of communication. This has interested all the world’s best philosophers from Plato going back over 2000 years. Scientists like Darwin wrote about possible evolutionary links between music and language in his book the Descent of Man and so did artists like Leonard Bernstein who gave a series of lectures at Harvard in the 70s. He spoke about the grammar of language and the grammar of music from Noam Chomsky’s theories. So it’s a persistent question. It keeps drawing interest from scientists today but there are some basic obvious similarities.For examples, both music and language have rhythmic systematic patterns of timing accent and grouping. Both language and music have melody-structured patterns of pitch, 29 over time. Both have syntax. Discrete elements like words or notes and principles for combining those elements into sequences. Sentences are just random sequences of words. Both convey affect which means emotion using sound. You can make out a lot of emotion from a person’s voice and music has the characteristic of providing emotions like happiness or sadness.

Music and language share similarities as complex sequences that unfold over time, serving as forms of communication. Philosophers and scientists, including Darwin and Bernstein, explored their connections, noting rhythmic patterns, melody structures, and syntax in both. Both also convey emotion, allowing listeners to interpret feelings through voice and musical expression.