>3. The ways in which meaning is made in music and in text are very different.
>
>The last of these three issues is one I'd like to understand better.
>Does anyone have any helpful suggestions?
>
>Gordon Wells, gwells who-is-at oise.on.ca
>OISE, Toronto.
>
>
Gordon, Robert,
It seems to me that "meaning" in music and "meaning" in language are two
different phenomena. Or at least we should try to clarify what is it that we
call "meaning" in each case. Clearly, "meaning" in music cannot be described
as discursive, cognitive, even rational. (Although it can be denotative!) Is
it just the emotional layer of meaning that we are "getting" through music?
Something like "pure emotion"?
On the other hand, emotional component of meaning in speech (text) is rarely
addressed, at least not in linguistic or psychological studies. However it
is there always - I would say, even, that without the emotional layer speech
(text) doesn't make any sense.
I think that studying "meaning" in music would be very instructive for
linguistic analysis!
What do you think?
Greetings,
Ana