Music

Wednesday, 2 November, 2016 - 12:28

Language barrier? Music is the answer

by AbiBlogger

‘Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent’ – Victor Hugo

There is certainly no denying that, while a holiday or trip to another country leaves you with a sense of longing and excitement, moving to another country is something entirely different. Speaking from experience, one of the most worrying questions that plays on everyone’s mind is always: how will I make friends?! What’s more is that this concept of ‘making friends’ becomes even more daunting when a foreign language is thrown into the mix. What if people think you’re boring because you can’t contribute to the conversation? What if your jokes don’t translate very well and your sense of humour is non-existent? What if you make a horrific grammatical mistake that terribly offends somebody?

The answer: music.

It is a long-known fact that music creates bonds. For good reason, many people have fallen in love or established lifelong friendships based on a mutual appreciation for a band or genre. One of the many benefits of our globalised society is the overlap in music tastes that exist across cultures: chart music, especially within Europe, is often the same (N.B.: unsurprisingly, everybody in the world loves Ed Sheeran). No matter who you are, or where you come from, everyone listens to music in some way.

So: you’ve met people, you’re making friends, but you’ve only just overcome the ‘small talk’ stages of these friendships. The next bit can sometimes be tricky. But, I always find, as soon as someone breaks the ice with the age-old ‘what type of music do you listen to?’ the language barriers seem to fall away. Music is something that everyone can speak passionately about. It is also something where differing opinions create interest, not conflict.

‘Oh, you’ve never heard of *insert indie band name here*? Here, listen to this song, you’ll love it.’

Music is one of the most important forms of self-expression and individuality, but, above all, it is a means of communication. Let’s also not forget that glowing sense of pride you feel when you introduce someone to a new song that they like (despite the fact that this then makes you super-protective of that song: ‘but I heard it first!’). Music is a universal language that everyone can understand, and one that everyone enjoys understanding. Whether you’re playing, singing or just listening, your mother tongue and cultural background become unimportant; so if you’re ever at a loss for something to say, say it with music.

Language level
Discussion

What music do you love, and why?

Submitted by yoavtuvialandesman on Mon, 01/15/2024 - 09:20

I like metal music
and people always ask me why do you like to hear men screaming but they are wrong .
Metal music is a genre that is taking rock and put distortion and story in it like iron maiden.
iron maiden is a band that like to take ancient Greece stories and make music like they take a bible story and make it music .
Metallica is a different type of metal that is called thrash it basically the second calmest metal.
Glam metal aka hair metal its the most known metal in the 80s and nineties like motley crue or guns and roses.
Nu metal is a bit different then all sorts of metal its a little bit like rap fast words but louder singing like korn or system of dawn.
Metalcore that is what most people think when people say metal its a lot of screaming basically.
Black metal is more sad and dark .
Heavy metal is the most loved genre of metal in the community its loved because of the insturments and calm vocals.
instrumental music is just the instruments and no vocals.
there is a lot more sorts of subgenres for metal which I cant say about because i do not know them

Submitted by Johnnylt on Tue, 05/14/2019 - 21:06

In my opinion, music is like a new language. This is because you can transmit what you feel or what you like. Sometimes it's difficult to communicate with other people when they don't speak your native language, maybe you are afraid of making a grammatical mistake, or saying something that maybe sounds rude or so direct for the person that you're talking with. With music this is more easier, you can connect with other country people, and this will be like a opportunity to make new friends that share your favorite music. Language shouldn't be a barrier for us to communicate or to express what we feel. My favorite music is pop, alternative and indie music, and my favorite singer is Nate Ruess, because he sings so good and in my opinion he always sing with the hearth and he transmit me what he feel and the emotions of the song, and for me that's what music should be about.

Submitted by VPP061299 on Tue, 05/14/2019 - 21:05

What I love listen the most is worship music, because when the words doesn't speak for you, the way you worship God with your heart it does, somehting happend when you open your heart to him with all your fears, insecurities, happiness and perhaps you may not be a spiritual person but when the music speak for you it can't stop the way the feelings are putting with melody it stucks in your head and your heart.

Submitted by littlestar22 on Tue, 05/14/2019 - 20:56

I agree with it, because music can help you when you move to other country to know people and make friends, also you can learn so many things from music and different languages too. As already mentioned on the article, music helps you in almost every situation that you're going through, for example if you are sad music can help you to feel better or on the opposite side, if you are happy it helps you too. Music is everywhere and can be very helpful .
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Submitted by Ostifini on Wed, 05/09/2018 - 06:25

pop music, Bruno mars
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