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Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis.
Rachel M Thompson1, Lauren K Salig1, L Robert Slevc1
1Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Royal Society Open Science
|January 16, 2025
Summary
Individuals with better musical ability generally learn new languages more successfully. This study synthesized 184 effects from 57 studies, confirming a positive link between musical skills and second-language acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Psychology
- Linguistics
Background:
- Language learning is crucial in a globalized world.
- Adults show varied success in acquiring new languages.
- Musical ability is linked to native language processing, suggesting a potential role in second language acquisition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the relationship between musical ability and second language learning.
- To synthesize existing research on this topic.
- To determine the robustness of the musical ability-second language learning connection.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a multivariate meta-analysis of 184 effects from 57 independent studies (n=3181).
- Utilized robust variance estimation for meta-analysis.
- Narratively summarized partial correlation effects from 12 additional studies.
Main Results:
- A significant positive relationship was found between musical ability and second language learning.
- This correlation remained robust even after accounting for publication bias.
- Individuals with higher musical aptitude demonstrated greater success in learning new languages.
Conclusions:
- Musical ability is a contributing factor to successful second language acquisition.
- Further research with diverse populations and methodologies is recommended.
- The findings support the integration of music-related activities in language learning strategies.
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