[TerraEpon]

Originally Posted by Jormungand

However, that's only when there are lyrics (this includes nonsense lyrics). Nonlyrical melodies (including vocals without lyrical structure, singing every note on 'la' or 'oh' or 'ah, humming, etc.), because it doesn't directly use language, naturally has less of a relationship with language than lyrical melodies.

That said, I don't think language has a particular influence on nonlyrical melodies. Certainly some composers might think about words to go along with their nonlyrical music, and to some extent that might shape their composition, but I don't think it's common if your goal is non-vocal music.

That's actually not true at all. Language plays a HUGE part in the way melody in music written after about 1830 is made. I wish I could explain it better....If I could find the video, I'd let Leonard Bernstein do it.