Icon for Post #869

TRBQ Podcast #6 — Steven Pinker on music

Pinning down a definition of music is harder than it sounds.

A song composed by a human easily fits into the category of music. But what about a song composed by a bird? Or the rumble of a freight train?

Download audio


Steven Pinker is a cognitive scientist at Harvard, and he’s written best-selling books about evolutionary psychology and language. He says music is tied to language.

“Music has a set of rhythms within rhythms that can align uncannily with those of speech,” Pinker says.

There’s an ongoing debate about whether music is “adaptive” — whether it serves a direct evolutionary purpose. Steven Pinker doesn’t think it does.

He’s argued that music is a happy byproduct of some other evolutionary adaptation. That idea stirred up some controversy when he first wrote about it in the 1990s, and it still does.

Pinker thinks there’s probably a strong connection between music and our use of language, but there are other possibilities as well. In his book “How the Mind Works,” he laid out six hypotheses for what music draws on. Language is only one of them.

Others are rhythm and motion; environmental sounds; emotional calls like moaning, laughing or weeping; and habitats like babbling brooks and chirping birds.

Pinker says his sixth hypothesis is that music draws on something we don’t yet understand, having to do with how the brain processes periodic patterns and rhythms.

“So I don’t think it is just language,” he says. “But I think it’s pretty closely tied to language.”

If music is linked to language in our brains, one might think we use music to “tell” something to each other. But Pinker doesn’t believe that’s true. He doesn’t think music “tells” us anything, but it’s certainly capable of stirring our emotions.

“Think of movie soundtracks,” he says. “Not the score of a musical like ‘Oliver’ or ‘The Sound of Music,’ but just the kind of movie where there’s always something in the background.”

Pinker is referring to the almost sound-effect like way music is used in film. Strings play during sad scenes, cymbals and drums during suspenseful scenes.

“And there’s a cacophony during the chase scenes,” Pinker says. “Is that music? You would never just listen to it. It doesn’t have much in the way of resolution or rhythm or melody, but it clearly yanks our emotions around.”

Pinker says music has some elements of language, but it’s limited in many ways. Music, like language, has syntax — patterns and rules in the way it’s formed. But Pinker says it doesn’t share the semantic aspect of language — communicating a specific meaning, all on its own.

“It’s certainly impossible to narrate an actual plot using melody alone,” Pinker says.

Words, Pinker points out, can spin out tales and stories in a way that music simply can’t.

“A man falls in love with a woman but she’s involved with another man because the man is better connected and comes from a more respectable family,” he says. “You just listen to a piece of music and if you don’t hear the lyrics, you’d have no way of guessing that.”

Even if music doesn’t tell a specific story, Pinker says there’s intense mental activity associated with it.

“That’s why we enjoy music so much,” he says. “But the interesting thing is, it’s very hard to pin down what it is.”

Music theorists like Deryck Cooke have tried to work out emotional “semantics” for music.

“He was kind of ridiculed by his fellow music theorists, because whatever claim he made, they’d find a counterexample,” Pinker says.

Pinker believes that there is something to Cooke’s research, though. He says Cooke did as well as possible, given the nature of the topic.

“It’s very slippery what the meaning of music is,” he says. “People can distinguish happy and sad and upbeat and calm and so on.”

Pinker says the emotional reaction music provokes is easy enough to gauge.

“But then when it comes time to pinning down exactly what it is,” he says, “it’s very hard to put it into words.”

Leave a Comment

  1. Hello! I agree with Pinker and I was studying to become an opera singer or singer actress-we are trained to stir the emotions. Few people would understand my French or German or Italian but they would kind of understand my phrasing, inflection, dynamics and rhythms. Singers hold no delusions about being scientists or healers. I know psychological science from studying psychology and science and my singing (it’s a break from science) comes from studying with a voice teacher. She hears and corrects from a system of teaching voice. Opera singing is nothing like singing pop or R&B or rap or jazz…..there is a definite system and structure. It is based slightly on speech but my speaking voice and singing voice are entirely different. He’s right there is no evolutionary value in music but it takes you into another worlds and other possibilities through sounds and emotions.

    • yes, Ms. Gaskins, opera singing is much different than singing with any microphone requirements. The vocal chords are amazing little creatures that are lubricated by the “false vocal chords.” In case the Maestro says something like “spit out your tone” that’s ok (regardless what anybody else thinks) so that your voice can carry over the lip of the stage.

  2. As Stravinsky often argued, music can express only itself.
    But we do have somewhat common emotional correlations with music, no?
    People can tell the difference between “happy,” “sad,” musical phrases, etc.
    We can also tell the difference between relaxing vs. exciting sounds, bright vs. dark…
    We know how to trigger emotional responses using specific tricks.
    In his book, Ragas of Northern Indian Music, Alain Danielou catalogs the emotional meanings of specific phrases used.
    In The Unanswered Question, Leonard Bernstein tried to apply certain Chomskyan linguistic ideas to music. Totally worth checking out.

  3. Hello!

    You Need Leads, Sales, Conversions, Traffic for trbq.org ? Will Findet…

    I WILL SEND 5 MILLION MESSAGES VIA WEBSITE CONTACT FORM

    Don’t believe me? Since you’re reading this message then you’re living proof that contact form advertising works!
    We can send your ad to people via their Website Contact Form.

    IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, Contact us => lisaf2zw526@gmail.com

    Regards,
    Condon

  4. There are a lot of bookies in Indonesia who have
    been motivated to near their businesses back Indonesia adopted a statute that prohibits every forms of gambling.
    Because of this phenomenon and is supported by
    technological advances that are definitely rapid, in the past after
    that all gambling happenings are no longer carried out freely and only shaped online such as online soccer betting or online casino.

    Progress is not without challenges, because the easier access to
    opinion technology, many irresponsible people start to receive advantage.

    Looking for income by scouting gambling agents and utilizing
    the fans of gambling off guard by scamming, fraud, phishing, etc.

    Different from Us! Our attributed site unaided gives members right of entry to soccer gambling
    and online casino games that have been proven secure and reliable.
    Gambling games from gambling game provider sites that we offer,
    have a utterly fine reputation, both in terms of the system and its facilities to customers.

  5. Sbobet Casino is a type of online casino gambling game that has mushroomed in Indonesia.
    Players no lengthier need to go from their benches to play casino gambling, because now with the advancement in technology the gambling industry has now entered a new phase
    known as online gambling. Present Sbobet provider as the best gambling
    promoter in Asia with the web betting method certainly provides more advantages because it is
    more accessible to you wherever and when you want it.

  6. Mabosway swing sites and mobile sports login contacts – There are lots of online
    gambling agent sites scattered on the internet.
    Each of these sites has offers and features provided, including the types of gambling
    games available. Many online gambling sites without help
    have the funds for 1 to 3 types of games and unquestionably have
    excellent games they offer.

    Mabosway.com is an online gambling agent site that offers not lonely
    1 or 3 types of gambling games but 7 engaging types of gambling games that
    you can play. This proves that Mabosway is the most pure betting site that
    offers not lonely online soccer gambling, but
    Casino, Poker, Toto 4D, Bola Tangkas, Fish Hunter and online cockfighting gambling.
    This site is known as Mabosway Indonesia for members who
    arrive from Indonesia.

    Various types of online gambling games are sufficiently supported by the maximum help from Mabosway.com.
    One of them is the Customer support feature which is 24 hours standby to promote deposit and dissolution transactions for members.
    How to register is afterward simple to do, especially for beginner bettors who are starting to bet for the first time.

    How to Apply for Mabosway

    How to register mabosway is definitely simple for unnamed people who want to start playing online gambling.
    You unaided have to click the connect NOW button on the house page which will go directly to the registration form page.

    After successfully registering you will acquire a user ID as an identity in the game.
    After all is done, you are officially allied and become a member.

    After you officially become a fanatic you are offered to
    pick the type of online gambling game that you can play.
    Here are 5 types of favorite online gambling games that you can enactment at Mabosway.com.

  7. How you can Register for a new Userbolavip Account

    To register as a member about the Userbolavip web site, the method is usually very easy, the particular first step an individual have to do is visit the official website
    or through the most recent alternative link provided by Userbolavip:
    Bukauserbolavip. apresentando

    Via the alternate link above an individual will go right to
    the principle page and the upper right corner, click the ‘REGISTER’ button to enter in the registration web
    page. Then you will certainly look for a page with several fields that must be completed with your individual data completely plus correctly.

    After making sure that almost all fields are filled in properly in addition to correctly,
    complete the particular registration process by pressing the ‘REGISTER’ button that is
    at the bottom associated with the registration web page.
    Within a couple of minutes you will get confirmation that the account you
    created is usually active.

    Userbolavip Sport Login

    After registering, you will get a user ID in addition to password
    which a person can use to login the sport. To do so, return to the main webpage in the
    userbolavip web site including the leading you will find two columns of which
    the username plus password.

    Enter your own username and password in both fields and press the particular sign in key close to them.
    Once successful, you will be able in order to access internet gambling games provided by Userbolavip.

  8. Option Link l69
    L69 is among the official sites that offer the latest alternative link trusted
    online betting sites. L69 provides more than 1 alternative link from every betting site, and we here have become the
    most comprehensive alternative link companies and the L69 site has a responsive
    display that makes it easy for you to access our site coming from the display of your own gadget or laptop.

    And what you need to know is of which we here have only 1 official link, l69.
    myself and if there are usually other websites that
    supply information or call our website is not our official site.

    Ball gambling and casino gambling are varieties of games
    that are very popular with the men and women of Indonesia.
    Why l69? Due to the fact we’ve been here for more than five years and have got become the
    trust associated with the men and women of Philippines as a place to play soccer gambling and also on the
    internet casino gambling. Itself has additionally obtained
    a license from the Asian and Western european governments in 2009 to turn out
    to be an online gambling gambling provider site
    in Asian countries and Europe. By offering lots of different types of betting bets
    that may be played upon one ID, it makes the particular members feel happy playing in your bookie.

    Advantages of Alternative Links l69
    Nevertheless sadly lately there are usually many members who
    encounter problems and problems any time entering into
    their Sbobet game since the Sbobet site is often blocked and lots of old
    sites have been blocked by the Indonesian federal government rather than a
    few are also impacted with what is usually called the Newsletter Job.
    The Indonesian government recently is struggling to eradicate links
    or paths to access sites that smell of pornography, gambling and there are a
    number of other content of which is deemed inappropriate.

  9. Maxbet Indonesia
    Maxbet is among the greatest leading igaming providers in Parts of asia which
    has already been established for 7 years and counting.

    Supplying the best successful odds for almost all gambling members.
    We also have an recognized license from PAGCOR to ensure we can market online gambling video games legally in Philippines.
    Now Maxbet or Ibcbet are the particular most widely used bookies in Indonesia because they provide innovative, controlled and easily obtainable gambling products via Maxbet mobile.

    Now Maxbet Indonesia is definitely an modern bookie due to
    the fact we always bring in the latest online gambling games in addition to our team will be always trying in order to
    update the internet betting system to ensure that it offers members along with the best wagering experience.
    The greatest chances of winning, the confidentiality regarding member privacy info, and secure obligations will also be obtained by people on Maxbet,
    this specific makes us the most popular in Indonesia.

  10. good enough and thank you for visiting online casino agents for Indonesia.
    Here we are here to have the funds for admission for fans of sbobet casino who desire to associate the international agent site Promosbobet.

    The products offered are no question diverse and are very the best choice.
    Derived from providers that have credibility and have
    been proven to have the best predicate in serving their customers.
    Providers later Sbobet, Maxbet and many more.

    As the best online casino and soccer gambling site in Indonesia.
    We meet the expense of maximum bolster afterward customer retain that works online 24 full hours all day.
    correspondingly members can piece of legislation whenever and wherever without fearing to
    tilt the possibility of difficulties or confusion.

  11. Indonesia’s Best and The majority of Complete Online Slot machine game Gambling Bookies

    Typically the Userbolavip site offers also been pre-loaded with various features that are intended for the particular safety and convenience of loyal clients throughout
    Indonesia. Simply by registering as a part an individual can immediately enjoy a variety of complex and attractive characteristics that this best plus most trusted on-line slot gambling internet
    site Userbolavip has.

    Complete type of game
    By becoming a member of the Userbolavip online wagering site,
    you could find various varieties of internet gambling online games.
    Not only slot machine games, here you could also find some other popular types of games such because soccer gambling or even sports betting, casino gambling, poker, and
    so on. All games are also guaranteed quality because they
    are provided by the best online gambling sites in the globe.

  12. Set of Indonesia’s Latest On-line Slots Gambling SiteUsernesia is a
    place to list Indonesian on-line slot gambling balances with the latest games.

    The Usernesia site being an Indonesian slot machine gambling site may give you the best experience in actively playing online slots.
    Different advantages and facilities have become the particular icon of theUsernesia
    Site. Each of the slot gambling display characteristics that we offer are the most sophisticated.

    With merely once registering as a member, you can enjoy just about all types of
    slot machine games provided by simply this site. Each game is safe since it has received a special permit from the regional gambling authority plus has met
    international standards, pre-loaded with the latest technology which will
    spoil you together with outstanding graphic visuals and blaring audio.

    How to sign-up for online slot machine game IDs around the Usernesia website
    For anybody that want to instantly join the finest online slot gambling
    gAfter that you may be immediately taken up the registration page where you may look for
    a registration type which you need to fill in together with your personal info completely and appropriately.ame on the webpage
    ofUsernesia, the method is extremely easy.
    You only have to visit typically the site at www. SiteUsernesia.
    com plus enter the sign up page by pushing the button located at the top right
    of the key page.

  13. curious in playing or irritating to register an account
    on an online slot site? You have found the right place.
    Sakura188 is an online slot listing site that can be the answer for
    your search. We give support to registration / account start online 24 hours as soon as an simple and quick process in just 2 minutes.
    You can visit the registration page on the Sakura188 site or question the CS in proceedings to put up to create an account.
    We guarantee there is no complicated process here, after you register you can unexpectedly play.

    Online slot site once the most complete games

    Sakura188 is the most unadulterated online slot site
    in Indonesia today. We have at least more than 5000 slot games that you can play.
    all game easy to use on our site has a minimum bet that varies
    but is nevertheless affordable. You just have to choose what kind of slot game
    you next to play. Slots when 5 – 7 reels, slot games later radical and timeless themes and fish shooting slots are here.

    Or pull off you in imitation of to play in slots next forward-looking jackpots?

    we then present these games.

    The Most Trusted Slot Bookie In Sakura188

    Besides having the most unlimited slot games, at Sakura188 you will
    be spoiled by playing at trusted slot dealers who put-on in imitation of us.
    The bookies upon our site are not behave slot dealers later
    other sites. all providers here have international conventional licenses
    as online game providers. Here are the trusted slot bookies
    at Sakura188.

  14. Are you a lover of online slot betting games?
    This game has been around for hundreds of years but continues to be one of ended
    up being games in Usernesia even in luxury gambling places like Las Vegas or Macau, slot machines are always neatly aligned waiting for followers to levers and win jackpots that reach billions
    of rupiah..

    But , do you know if this game was primarily considered a
    flop game? Yes, at the beginning of this game created by its creator named Charles August Fey
    in 1894 in the United States, this machine was intended
    being an computerized poker game machine that could be moved using coins.

    After trying to build his idea into reality, Fey finally quit and considered his discovery a disappointment.
    But who would have thought that all this machine turned out to be one of the
    most widely used online games in the world.
    Not only in slot gambling online games provided by wagering houses but also the concept
    employed by various games as a “bonus game”.

    This is where the game relating to the RNG or Random Number Generator was initiated, where the
    machine will give random values ​​that will determine what you
    will get each and every round of the sport. Not only slots but in addition online games like virtual sports
    activities or bonus games like gacha also use this kind of concept.

  15. Depobola
    Depobola is one of the intermediary agents working with the top
    online bookies sites. You can expect various products
    which can be accessed by online gamblers such as sbobet, maxbet,
    klik4d, cockfighting, agile golf ball, shooting fish, internet casino, and many others.

    Depobola as a provider site for online gambling gambling has been founded
    since 2014, our company is already very experienced
    in large purchases and provide playing satisfaction to online soccer betting enthusiasts.

    Features of Choosing a Depobola Site as a Football
    Agent
    In the transaction process, storing funds or withdrawing money is processed
    quickly in minutes.
    Providing the best service, served by customer service who is able to be contacted anytime during 24 hours online.

    Members can enjoy attractive promos and jackpot prizes from many products we provide.

    Has good security standards, so there is no need to worry about personal
    data authorized by members on our site.
    Virtually any winnings it’s still paid without a lowest or maximum amount.

    Complete features, Depobola makes it easy for its users to contact us via livechat or messenger,
    we also don’t forget to provide an alternative site in the form of a mirror site so that it
    can be seen by its users.

  16. Benefits of Playing Slots in Depo168
    Playing slot machines is very well-liked nowadays as well as searched for after.
    Although presently there are many online video games that are likewise financially profitable.
    One of the reasons for this is because slot machines are better to perform without downloading a great application.

    Fashionable of young men and women who else are familiar together with
    gadgets is a new promising market. It is very an easy task to
    attract the attention of users by providing various benefits.
    Almost all bookie sites offer various promising advantages with regard
    to users.

  17. Userbola Agent Sportsbook Trusted
    Typically the football gambling game is very popular in Indonesia.
    Besides being able to play sports betting, you can also play Casino, and slots.

    Userbola as an official and trustworthy Indonesian gambling website and bookmaker provides fast
    and free list services.

    We provide the best service that you should be able to play gambling
    easily without having to download and install applications,
    for sbobet the basketball can be accessed via sbobet mobile or wap, while sbobet casino is equipped with
    HTML5 features.

    And we also provide customer support services, if you have
    trouble logging in or don’t have the latest sbobet link or alternative, you can call us via
    live chat, WhatsApp, We Chat, and Line.

    Game Userbola Online Betting
    The userbola site also offers ibcbet / maxbet
    ball gambling games, joker slots gaming gambling,
    live casino, s128 and sv338 cockfighting, fielding balls (tangkasnet, tangkas88,
    tangkas1). For anybody who like various online gambling games,
    the userbola site is he best option for you for you Indonesian internet gambling
    players. The maxbet system can play ball wagering, live casino at redbet
    allbet, keno, and quantity games. Also there are
    slots and fish shooting games that are very famous from joker gambling.
    If you love bets fighting, you can wager and watch football through the SV128 or SV338 providers.

    Userbola Internet gambling Web site

    Userbola is an online gambling site that posseses an official permit from PAGCOR, so you don’t need to hesitate to
    create a account transaction and play on our site, and
    your data will be safe. Userbola as a reliable betting site, we pay your earn no
    matter how fast you play gambling in just 3 minutes for the process of withdrawing funds, and for the process of depositing funds
    for approximately 1 minute. Userbola provides deal services from 9 banking institutions
    namely Financial institution BCA, BNI, BRI, Mandiri, CIMB Niaga, Danamon, Panin, OCBC
    NISP. Additionally, there are alternative transaction services such as OVO, Nilai.
    Register now and get the satisfaction and convenience of playing gambling on the Userbola site.

    HOW TO DEPOSIT ONLINE BETS
    You must first register to become a member of a football gambling agent.

    After that you will be given a consumer ID to log in to enter the internet betting game.
    Make a deposit of funds immediately to the bank account number of
    the Trusted Sports Agent if you wish to play immediately.
    The steps to create a deposit are as employs:

    Submit Deposit Form
    Demand via our SMS CENTER at + 62-821-6182-5555
    Demand via Whatsapp + 62-821-6182-5555
    Request via Live Talk Userbola directly
    Please use the steps above to avoid irresponsible persons on behalf of Userbola.
    Become careful to avoid things we don’t want with each other.
    Congratulations on joining the Indonesian Trusted Football Betting Agent community.
    Userbola is for those of you who are interested in actively playing with us.
    Have a good bet.

  18. One of the most Trusted Soccer Gambling Real estate agent in Indonesia Serving Lists
    of Gambling and Casino Gambling
    Userbola is typically the Most Trusted and Official SBOBET Agent in Dalam negri.
    We serve bets of which provide soccer gambling online games, online gambling games, on line casino gambling agents, poker in addition to online
    lottery.

    We will wholeheartedly always be ready to help what
    you may need and help you when there are difficulties in producing SBOBET Online Betting Balances, MAXBET Agents or previously known as IBCBET, Serba4d or perhaps
    KLIK4D lottery.

    New twenty percent Member Bonus with typically the Best and many Reliable Football Gambling Real estate agent
    Userbola is usually the Best SGD777 Agency plus the Greatest Football
    Bandar in Philippines, always supplying 24-hour online
    service without stopping at the same time
    of registering, lodging, withdrawing and responding to your every
    complaint.

    With regard to more information, please go directly to livechat in addition to chat directly with our friendly CS

    Register with regard to Sbobet right this moment!

    Full Selection for Trustworthy Sports Betting and On line casino Brokers
    For you fans of betting soccer matches both foreign and domestic, reliable sports
    gambling provides various matches from all over the world.

    Not simply that, basketball, tennis plus eSports tournaments will also be here.

    Especially for connoisseurs of Casino Brokers,
    we have got probably the most complete range regarding video games ranging from Baccarat, Poker,
    Keno, Slot Machine and several more.

    Userbola is a single of the trusted sports gambling sites that works as a realtor of
    the particular tour’s major soccer online bdtting shops for example SBOBET,
    Ibcbet and Mahabet Sport. You will definitely get a pleasurable experience while
    betting due to interesting features offered by this site. Userbola has a professional service when you
    make down payment transaction until pulling out money.

    Before you can enter the soccer gambling game on Userbola you must register first and become a customer.
    The method is very effortless, all you have in order to
    do is click on the list and enter in the registration form page and
    you will move directly to our main website.

  19. Usernesia
    Usernesia is one of the Greatest Official Online Gambling Brokers in Indonesia.
    Usernesia is among the best selections for you because Usernesia
    already posseses an official license
    and it is registered at the center worldwide On-line
    Betting company. In addition, Usernesia also provides products
    that are complete with technology which has been analyzed by
    World Betting experts.

    Services Supplied by Usernesia
    Usernesia is one of the greatest Online Gambling Official Agents that provide
    the best service, Usernesia provides your facilities
    to be served immediately by professional and friendly customer service.

    Additionally , Usernesia Customer Service is also in charge of
    keeping you safe at playing, and not only the service
    provided is fantastic but the events given to members are
    also fantastic, of course.

    The Benefits of Usernesia’s Site As compared to Other Sites
    Usernesia provides a very complete game that has passed the test from World Gambling experts.
    Usernesia is also one of the businesses that has squeezed the best online
    gambling site reward.
    What is more, the Usernesia Official Web site also has
    an extremely fast transaction service in just under 3 minutes to make deposit
    and disengagement transactions.
    Usernesia also has a very high level of security therefore it can be trustworthy, and
    Usernesia any of the Established Sites that has never been struggling and always
    offers satisfaction to Usernesia members.

Leave a Reply to Dorothy Condon Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *