The effect of music training on the processing of the prosody-semantics interface by Dutch learners of English

Abstract

The interface between prosody and semantics is utilised to determine semantic meaning using prosodic information. Recently, more research has been devoted to the workings of this interface. However, not much research has gone into this interface in second language (L2) learners. One variable that could potentially help L2 learners of English is music training. Music training has been associated with benefits to prosodic perception and processing in the literature, also in foreign languages. In the present study, we have looked at how Dutch speakers of L2 English with varying amounts of music training and listening use English prosodic information to understand semantic meaning of utterances with ‘only’. We tested 30 participants on their online processing of prosodic information in utterances with ‘only’ in a visual world paradigm experiment using eye-tracking. Generally, Dutch learners of English do not use prosodic information as effectively as predicted. More importantly, we have found that music training had no effect on the perception and processing of prosodic information. Confirmation of the null-hypothesis may, in this case, have been the result of some methodological issues that could and should be considered for future research. However, our results in combination with recent literature might also suggest that music training may not actually have the benefits in this specific usage of prosody.