JiB makes an important point about bar lines being for the music reader. Until relatively recently, music was an oral and auditory tradition. The history of written music is very recent; in the 17th century the notation still varied from kingdom to queendom to empire. Variations probably remain where computer typesetting is not affordable.

If you can't read this, the commas, periods and new paragraphs won't mean much. As for interpreting bar lines, each of us speaks a given sentence with our own rhythm. Sharing something with others is made far easier if there is an agreed upon rhythm.

My two cents for the kitty.

CH.