"La orquesta está tocando."

Translation: The orchestra is playing.

[zmjb1]

why can I not say :the orchestra is touching: as in it moves me emotionally

[rspreng]

tocar can be used in the manner you suggest, but there needs to be an object (me) that is being touched. In this sentence there is no object.

[CattleRustler]

When it comes to musical instruments tocar is used for "play/playing" them (not jugar, to play, as in a game) so be careful with adding another layer of possible confusion with touching like emotionally. Technically the music is touching emotionally, not the orchestra itself.

[rocko2012]

I think the verb "tocar" does not mean "touching" in the emotional sense. http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/conmovedor I'm guessing "la orquesta es conmovedora" = The orchestra is touching.

[IanWitham1]

I do not have access to my school books so I cannot give you the references but I remember that my English teacher told us that in Shakespeare's England, "tocar" was used for instruments that played when they were touched; lutes, virginals, etc. A different word was used for instruments that are played by breathing into them; shawms, sackbuts, etc.

[Marris42]

Why can't I say "the orchestra are playing"? An orchestra is more than one person

[Melita2]

That would be correct in British English, but DL uses American English. In Canada, we use a mix of British and American English and people are always saying things that sound strange to my ears.

[Wassabian17]

How do I remove a language I don't want to do anymore on mobile duolingo?

[ElderBarcl2]

i just didint know how to spell orchestra in english. haha

[Craig877964]

Hello ElderBarcl2: *didn't