Investigating the role of musical experience in lexical tone perception: non-musicians and amateur musicians’ perception of Mandarin tones

Abstract

Previous studies have found that musicians typically discriminate Mandarin tones better than non-musicians. However, the relationship between musical experience and tone perception is unclear. In the current study, 39 monolingual native English speakers with no previous experience of tone languages and a range of musical backgrounds (non-musicians and amateur musicians) completed 6 tasks, including lexical tone identification, working memory, test of first language (L1) and second language (L2) segmental perception and the Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index which measures musical ability and experience. Results indicated that tone identification was significantly correlated with music training, musical ability, and pitch discrimination. However, a path analysis showed that pitch discrimination and musical ability, but not music training, directly influenced tone identification. Music training had a positive direct influence on pitch discrimination and musical ability, and indirectly influences tone identification via these mediators. Follow-up multivariate multiple regression showed that different tones are affected differently: pitch discrimination ability mainly influenced identification of Tones 3 and 4, while musical ability significantly influenced Tones 1 and 4. Overall, naïve, non-tone language speakers do not need music training or a musical background to be able to identify Mandarin tones with a high degree of accuracy.