5/09/2007

The importance of music and song in language learning

Last week, I read a book "MUSIC and SONG",Tim Murphey,1992.
The book said the importance of music and song in language learning.
1. It's easier to sing language than to speak it. (Although modern technology has universalized access to song, it could be that song actually preceded and aided the development of speech in homo sapiens(Livingstone 1973).)
2. Song appears to precede and aid the development of language in young children. ( A growing body of research indicates that the musical babbling produced by infants, and returned by parents, is extremely important in the development of language in young children.)
3. In our time, it is hard to escape music and song as it occupies ever more of the world around us.
4. 'The song stuck in my head' phenomenon seems to reinforce the idea that songs work on our short-and long-term memory. (the echoing in our minds of the last song we heard after living our car, a restaurant, etc, and which can be both enjoyable and sometimes unnerving)
5. The singing of songs resembles what Piaget describe as egocentric language , in which children talk, with little concern for an addressee. They simply enjoy hearing themselves repeat.



From the book, I thought that the activity of music and song have something to do with the rhythm and chants. I guess There are some common points of their effects.
1. Chants are more effective for young children.
2. Chants make it easier to remember English words and phrases in their mind in the long term.
3. Chants' activities increase their interest in English greatly.

5/08/2007

My new research question

To what extent does the activity of English rhythm and chants help children's learning of words and phrases?

I think by using rhythm and chants, children get accustomed to how to say English words, phrases, and pronunciation. I want to research this question considering relationship between Engish rhythm and Japanese rhythm.