Is musical expertise associated with self-reported foreign-language ability?

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Music Cognition
• Second Language Acquisition

Background:

• Previous research suggests a correlation between musical expertise and language abilities.
• Rhythm and music training have been specifically implicated in predicting phonological, grammatical, and second-language (L2) skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between musical expertise (ability and training) and L2 English abilities among native Portuguese speakers.
• To determine if musical skills predict self-reported L2 proficiency.

Main Methods:

• 154 Portuguese native speakers completed self-assessments of L2 English ability across seven domains.
• Participants underwent general cognitive ability testing and an objective musical ability test (melody and rhythm).
• A questionnaire gathered data on music training and musical behaviors.

Main Results:

• L2 ability positively correlated with education and cognitive ability, but not with music training or musical ability.
• No association was found between L2 proficiency and self-reported musical behaviors.
• Bayesian analyses supported null hypotheses, indicating no link between L2 ability and rhythm skills or music lessons.

Conclusions:

• Findings question the proposed association between musical and second-language abilities, particularly for Portuguese speakers learning English.
• The relationship between music and L2 acquisition may be population- or measure-specific.
• Self-reported L2 ability did not align with musical expertise in this study.