A study on the relationship between musical ability and EFL pronunciation proficiency

Mariola Kaszycka

John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin , Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3780-1798


Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between musical ability and pronunciation proficiency of English as a foreign language [EFL] of university students of English philology. English pronunciation of the participants is evaluated by academic teachers of English in three categories: the general impression of the foreign or native accent, the accuracy of production of English sounds and the use of word stress and intonation. This experiment was conducted entirely online. Participants’ musical ability was tested using Gordon’s Advanced Measure of Music Audiation [AMMA]. The results of this study demonstrate a moderately positive correlation between musicality and FL pronunciation proficiency. The more musical students, the higher marks from the judges. The present findings seem to be consistent with other studies which suggest that musical skills may positively affect the acquisition of foreign language pronunciation.

Keywords:

musical ability, musicality, FL pronunciation, AMMA, pronunciation proficiency



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Published
30-12-2021


Kaszycka, M. (2021). A study on the relationship between musical ability and EFL pronunciation proficiency. LingBaW. Linguistics Beyond and Within, 7, 58–67. https://doi.org/10.31743/lingbaw.13453

Mariola Kaszycka  mariola.kaszycka@yahoo.com
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3780-1798



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