Definitions for language devised by linguists have generally relegated paralinguistic phenomena to a trivial status. Thus, much of the rich variety of human and animal expression is pared down to "essential" characteristics suitable for analysis by the wielders of Ockham's razor. The narrow boundaries such definitions impose have not only shaped our current understanding of systems of communication between other life forms but adversely impose limits upon our understanding of so-called artificially generated human communication systems such as music. Ironically there may be significant similarities between these systems that could contribute to our understanding of "language," while challenging current definitions of it. The importance of such an interaction between the study of music and the study of animal communication signals addresses the very issue of what might distinguish human consciousness from that of other animals. While this question has been central to the foundations of science and philosophy, understanding of how music may specifically contribute to its elucidation remains to be articulated. 

http://davidddunn.com/~david/writings/specula.pdf