Musical hearing and the acquisition of foreign-language intonation

The present study seeks to determine whether superior musical hearing is correlated with successful production of second language (L2) intonation patterns. Fifty Polish speakers English at the university level were recorded before and after an extensive two-semester accent training course in English. Participants asked read aloud a series short dialogues containing different patterns, complete two tests measuring tone deafness melody discrimination, survey regarding experience. We visually analyzed assessed participants’ by comparing their F0 contours model provided teachers following ToBI (Tones Break Indices) guidelines compared results test scores responses. suggest that more accurate pitch perception can be related correct L2 patterns as participants ear produced native-like speech training, similar those teachers. After dividing into four categories based on experience, we also observed some students better able produce However, poor no background improved, suggesting acquisition formal classroom setting regardless one’s skills.