Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis
In our multicultural and interconnected world, the ability to learn new languages is important. However, there are significant differences in how successfully adults can learn aspects of non-native languages. Given robust relationships between musical ability and native-language processing, musical...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241193 |
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| author | Rachel M. Thompson Lauren K. Salig L. Robert Slevc |
| author_facet | Rachel M. Thompson Lauren K. Salig L. Robert Slevc |
| author_sort | Rachel M. Thompson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In our multicultural and interconnected world, the ability to learn new languages is important. However, there are significant differences in how successfully adults can learn aspects of non-native languages. Given robust relationships between musical ability and native-language processing, musical ability might also contribute to successful second-language acquisition. However, while several studies have assessed this relationship in various ways, the consistency and robustness of the relationship between musical ability and second-language learning remains unclear. Thus, we synthesized 184 effects across 57 independent studies (n =3181) with a robust variance estimation multivariate meta-analysis, and we narratively summarized partial correlation effects across 12 studies. The available evidence suggests that musical ability is indeed positively related to second-language learning, even after factoring in publication bias revealed by the meta-analysis. Although future work with more diverse participant populations and methodologies is needed to further disentangle this relationship, it is apparent that individuals with better musical ability are generally more successful at second-language learning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f6a6b82642142b9942fbb1463fb074b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f6a6b82642142b9942fbb1463fb074b2025-01-19T18:56:25ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032025-01-0112110.1098/rsos.241193Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysisRachel M. Thompson0Lauren K. Salig1L. Robert Slevc2Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USAProgram in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USAProgram in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USAIn our multicultural and interconnected world, the ability to learn new languages is important. However, there are significant differences in how successfully adults can learn aspects of non-native languages. Given robust relationships between musical ability and native-language processing, musical ability might also contribute to successful second-language acquisition. However, while several studies have assessed this relationship in various ways, the consistency and robustness of the relationship between musical ability and second-language learning remains unclear. Thus, we synthesized 184 effects across 57 independent studies (n =3181) with a robust variance estimation multivariate meta-analysis, and we narratively summarized partial correlation effects across 12 studies. The available evidence suggests that musical ability is indeed positively related to second-language learning, even after factoring in publication bias revealed by the meta-analysis. Although future work with more diverse participant populations and methodologies is needed to further disentangle this relationship, it is apparent that individuals with better musical ability are generally more successful at second-language learning.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241193second-language acquisitionmeta-analysismusical ability |
| spellingShingle | Rachel M. Thompson Lauren K. Salig L. Robert Slevc Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis Royal Society Open Science second-language acquisition meta-analysis musical ability |
| title | Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis |
| title_full | Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis |
| title_short | Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis |
| title_sort | is musical ability related to second language acquisition a meta analysis |
| topic | second-language acquisition meta-analysis musical ability |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241193 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rachelmthompson ismusicalabilityrelatedtosecondlanguageacquisitionametaanalysis AT laurenksalig ismusicalabilityrelatedtosecondlanguageacquisitionametaanalysis AT lrobertslevc ismusicalabilityrelatedtosecondlanguageacquisitionametaanalysis |