ERIC Number: EJ970709
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jul
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0305-7356
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Pitch Perception, Working Memory, and Second-Language Phonological Production
Posedel, James; Emery, Lisa; Souza, Benjamin; Fountain, Catherine
Psychology of Music, v40 n4 p508-517 Jul 2012
Previous research has suggested that training on a musical instrument is associated with improvements in working memory and musical pitch perception ability. Good working memory and musical pitch perception ability, in turn, have been linked to certain aspects of language production. The current study examines whether working memory and/or pitch perception ability are possible mediators of the effect of musical training on second language phonological production. Native English-speaking undergraduate participants were asked questions about their previous music and Spanish training, and were asked to complete tests of pitch perception, working memory, and Spanish pronunciation. Results indicated that although musical training was linked to both better working memory and better pitch perception, only pitch perception ability was a significant predictor of Spanish pronunciation. These results suggest that incorporating musical training into language classes may be one way to improve second language pronunciation. (Contains 1 table, 2 figures, and 1 note.)
Descriptors: Second Language Learning, Oral Language, Musical Instruments, Short Term Memory, Intonation, Music Education, Correlation, Auditory Perception, Phonology, Undergraduate Students, Spanish, English, Native Speakers, Pronunciation, Predictor Variables, Second Language Instruction, Interdisciplinary Approach
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Peer reviewed
Direct link
