Music is not a universal language — but it can bring us together when words fail

Nature

by Patrick E. Savage

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Music has long been celebrated as a potential "universal language of mankind," but its ability to unite people across cultures and even species remains a subject of scientific debate. While the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted humanity's longing for connection, the rise of AI-generated music and deepfake songs has added complexity to this discussion. Despite these challenges, music continues to bridge gaps between diverse groups, from KPop fans worldwide to Spanish singer Rosalía's multilingual album *Lux* and Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny's performances at major events. Historically, scholars like Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer debated whether music was unique to humans or evolved alongside language. Their discussions persist today, with modern research exploring how music unites people more effectively than words in some cases. Recent studies suggest that while music is not a universal language in the traditional sense, it does transcend cultural boundaries in ways that reflect shared human experiences. Scientific efforts to quantify music's universality have been mixed. Alan Lomax's 1960s cantometrics method analyzed songs from various cultures, but later reanalyses revealed that musical diversity often diverges from genetic and linguistic histories. Meanwhile, the Natural History of Song project found commonalities in song types (like dance or healing songs) across cultures, supporting Longfellow's idea of music as a universal force. Despite these findings, some ethnomusicologists argue against overgeneralizing music's universality. The debate underscores the complexity of cultural evolution and raises questions about how music shapes—and reflects—human connections. This matters for science because understanding music's role in bonding societies can offer insights into our shared history and potential future interactions, even amidst technological disruptions like AI. Ultimately, while music may not be a universal language, its power to unite people across cultures remains undeniable. As humanity navigates an increasingly interconnected yet fragmented world, the enduring appeal of music offers a unique lens for exploring what brings us together—beyond words or technology.

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Originally published on Nature on 2/23/2026