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Title:
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An Empirical Investigation of the Association between Musical Aptitude and Foreign Language Aptitude
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Author:
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Lorraine Gilleece
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Email:
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click here to access email
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Homepage:
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homepage.eircom.net/~lorrainegilleece
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Degree Awarded:
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Trinity College Dublin
, Centre for Language and Communication Studies
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Degree Date:
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2006
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Linguistic Subfield(s):
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Cognitive Science
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Director(s):
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Carl Vogel
David Singleton
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Abstract:
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Given the joint ubiquity of music and language, and pre-theoretic
similarities between the two, it is relevant to consider the relationship
between musical ability and linguistic ability, specifically in relation to
second language acquisition. The specific question of musical aptitude and
its relationship to foreign language aptitude is the central focus of this
thesis.
In Chapter 2, the dissertation reviews classical and recent research on
individual differences, in particular those individual differences which
are known to have a major impact on the second language learning process.
This review reveals a complex relationship between language aptitude,
intelligence and working memory. Chapter 3 examines the relationship
between music and other cognitive abilities, focussing primarily on the
relationship between music and language ability. This suggests that further
analysis of the music-language relationship is indeed justified. From the
analysis of past research reported in Chapters 2 and 3, open questions
emerge about two important issues: the extent to which music and language
aptitude are related, and the extent to which that relationship is mediated
by general intelligence.
Empirical investigations are carried out to investigate these issues
quantitatively and qualitatively. Phase I of the study examines receptive
aptitude in music and language. A sample of 149 subjects completes the
Bentley Measures of Musical Aptitude and a language aptitude test based on
the Modern Language Aptitude Test, in addition to the Raven Progressive
Matrices Test. Phase II of the study examines productive aptitude in music
and language. Forty one of the original subjects imitate foreign language
words and sentences and short rhythm patterns. Results of both experiments
reveal a significant relationship between music and language aptitude,
independent of general intelligence. Correlations may be considered small
to moderate.
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