Quantum Horizons

Is Music Older Than Language?

James H. Sterling Oct 18, 2026 7 min read

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Like language, music has syntax—rules for ordering elements—such as notes, chords, and intervals—into complex structures. Yet none of these elements has meaning on its own. Rather, it's the larger structure—the melody—that conveys emotional meaning. And it does that by mimicking the prosody of speech.