What is the differece of " to recite and to chant"

Question

1) In the temple, monks are reciting the scripture.

2) In the timple, monks are chanting the scripture.

what is the difference between " to recite and to chant" ? in the above context, which one is correctly used. How about the situation of demonstration, eg. 3) protestors are chanting the slogan. 4) protestors are reciting the slogan. which one is correct?

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BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

napoleonponapa1) In the temple, monks are reciting the scripture.

2) In the timple, monks are chanting the scripture.

what is the difference between " to recite and to chant" ? in the above context, which one is correctly used.

How about the situation of demonstration, eg. 3) protestors are chanting the slogan. 4) protestors are reciting the slogan. which one is correct?

In my opinion, when you recite, you are repeating word-for-word a memorized passage. You can do it hesitatingly, with confidence, in little bursts of words that then slows down, or even in your own head (not outloud).

"Chanting" refers to a rhythmic way of saying the words.

I can't tell you which is more correct because I don't know what the situation was. I would say the protestors were chanting. "**** NO, we won't GO."

Avangi · Answer

Chant implies singing, that is sustained tone and regular rhythm.

Demonstrators / protestors usually repeat the words and accents of their slogans in rhythmic unison, although there's not much in the nature of sustained tone. Still, crowds repeating the same words over and over often instinctively tend toward doing it in unison, in a "sing-song" way.
When monks chant the scriptures, the tone patterns help them remember the words, and vice versa. Certain words are dwelt on, producing specific singing tones.

Reciting is simply speaking, although unison speech can be quite exciting.

I'd say protestors definitely chant, because the rhytmic patterns (and word patterns) are repeated over and over again, stressing the accents in unison. In many cases protesters add singing tones to their slogans, but I wouldn't say that's an essential feature of mob type chanting.

Prayer, or scripture chanting, such as Gregorian Chant, is performed with great precision and is quite beautiful - often polyphonic, or haviing multiple independent voice lines.

Whether monks recite prayers or chant them would depend on the sect, but I'd say the majority of monks chant the majority of their prayers.

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Towel teal 3003 · Answer

What is the difference between chanting, reciting and meditation?

What is the differece of " to recite and to chant"

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