28-Jan-2012 13:15
Music and language
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HI guys!
I wanted to get some feedback on the following question:
What examples would you use to show how Music has changed or influenced modern english language and subsequently contemporary culture?
A couple of small examples: the invention of new words.
"Bling-bling", meaning "jewelry", is well-established English slang now. I believe it was coined in a hip hop song.
"... the pompitus of love" is another neologism that came from a Steve Miller song. It's not used much outside of those lyrics, but many fans of classic rock just assume it's always been a word.
FWIW,
John
While I'm at it, I should add that neologisms also enter the language every time a new genre of music develops. The OED includes relatively new entries for heavy metal, thrash, acid jazz, Afrobeat, and so many others. As long as there is new music there will always be new words.
Music is also a source for cross-pollination between languages. English has many loan words from Italian (opera, aria, forte, piano, etc.) due to Italy's enormous contributions to musical culture in the past. Likewise we can find 'pop' and 'rock' in use in dozens of languages around the world today.


