Music has always been and continues to be the universal language of mankind. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
不赞同音乐是人类的通用语言
Nearly every culture touts its music, and many people today have begun to appreciate music in its various forms. This is why it has often been claimed that music is the universal language of humankind from time immemorial until now. However, although I recognize the influence and importance of music, I do not think it really is humankind’s universal language.
By definition, a universal language is something all people can use and understand to convey ideas and emotions. But even if nearly everyone likes some type of music, the probability of a person understanding and appreciating music from any culture is not a hundred percent. Listeners may enjoy a particular rhythm or melody, but they might not understand the lyrics. So if listeners cannot always grasp the message of a song, one cannot say that music is universally understood.
Moreover, by simply observing the kinds of music that different cities and towns enjoy, one would notice that not all cultures are represented. Though people today have access to music from around the globe, rarely does any household decide to listen to music from different regions or continents. Instead, there is usually a preference connected to where the family is from and the area where they currently live. So it is a stretch to say that everyone can fully understand and appreciate music from every culture if, in reality, people only listen to music from certain places.
To conclude, music is an important aspect of culture, something worthy of our applause and respect. But because we cannot always understand each song, we should stop claiming that music is humankind’s universal language.