Words of Music

What’s on offer?

Join us for an informal talk for the wider public, and particularly those interested in language and music.

What’s it about?

How did a large snake, the serpent, end up on the inventory of musical instruments at St Cecilia's Hall? What's the term's history and where does it come from? Why do we use words like sweet or dark to describe music?

Inspired by the museum's unique collection of historical instruments, this event shares how words take on their meanings and how humans learn words and language from early childhood. Enter the world of language and music with stories, rhymes, songs and musical instruments as you discover the mysteries of language, from how human babies learn new words to what happens to words across time and cultures.

Part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science.

Who’s leading the event?

Barbora Skarabela, Developmental Linguist, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh