Des airs de parole : du son et du rythme aux représentations symboliques de la musicalité intrinsèque à la langue

Abstract

This paper surveys the major directions taken by current research investigating the signification conveyed by the intrinsic musicality of language. Through its segmental and prosodic properties, each language has its specific sound profile. Through the parallel to music, this contribution aims to focus on various aspects which contribute to shape the intrinsic musicality of language and identifies the various functions it carries out. Phonic characteristics shall be regarded in this perspective as a key component allowing access to meaning (e.g. in the framework of L1 and L2 acquisition), as well as an aesthetic and musical manifestation of language. As illustrated by some recent studies involving contact between music and language, the boundary between linguistic functions and musical substance is sometimes difficult to define to the point that music happens in some cases to prolong the use of articulated speech.