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Taka Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
reference
There is evidently a sort of communication in music which operates at an unconscious level of the mind.
What does the 'which' refer to; 'music' or 'communication (in music)'?
What does the 'which' refer to; 'music' or 'communication (in music)'?
Top answer
The subject is music, therefore, it is refering to the music.
- The subject is music, therefore, it is refering to the music.
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10 Answers
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TakaThere is evidently a sort of communication in music which operates at an unconscious level of the mind.Hi Taka,
What does the 'which' refer to; 'music' or 'communication (in music)'?
I see it as the "communication (in music)" that is operating at the unconscious level.
00
Hmm...two different answers.
For your information, the sentence has this in front:
We are moved by music in ways that words cannot describe, and such emotion can drive to action—war, murder and love.
For your information, the sentence has this in front:
We are moved by music in ways that words cannot describe, and such emotion can drive to action—war, murder and love.
00
TakaThere is evidently a sort of communication in music which operates at an unconscious level of the mind.It refers to 'a sort of communication in music' or just 'communication'.
What does the 'which' refer to; 'music' or 'communication (in music)'?
ZenahTh
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For me, there's a very slight ambiguity in the sentence as it stands; but I would agree that "communication (in music)" is the more likely antecedent. Cf.
1. There is evidently a sort of communication in music | which operates at an unconscious level of the mind. Thus the music that accompanies a film will affect our emotional response to the film, even though we do not consciously hear i
1. There is evidently a sort of communication in music | which operates at an unconscious level of the mind. Thus the music that accompanies a film will affect our emotional response to the film, even though we do not consciously hear i
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MrPedanticFor me, there's a very slight ambiguity in the sentence as it stands; but I would agree that "communication (in music)" is the more likely antecedent.Hello MrP
I agree. The lack of inflections in English again causes ambiguity. There's nothing we can do about it.
CB
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MrPedanticFor me, there's a very slight ambiguity in the sentence as it stands; but I would agree that "communication (in music)" is the more likely antecedent. Cf.MrP,
So if it were the non-restrictive:
There is evidently a sort of communication in music, which operates at an unconscious level of the mind.
would you think both interpr
00
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Why just 'music' or 'communication'? How about 'sort'?
Intuitively I vote for 'communication'.
CJ
Edited to replace which with music, which is what I meant originally.
Intuitively I vote for 'communication'.
CJ
Edited to replace which with music, which is what I meant originally.
00
Good point CJ, I would say a sort of communication in music is modified by which here.
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