In her Exchange article “Early Brain Development Research Review and
Update,” Pam Schiller notes new thinking on the link between music and
language…
“Linguists, psychologists, and neuro-scientists have recently changed
their long held opinion about the relationship between speaking and
singing. The latest data show that music and language are so
intertwined that an awareness of music is critical to a baby’s language
development. As children grow, music fosters their communication
skills. Our sense of song helps us learn to talk, read, and even make
friends.
“Brain areas governing music and language overlap. Music and language
have much in common. Both are governed by rules and basic elements
(word and notes). In language, words make phrases, which combine to
make larger phrases and eventually sentences. In music, notes combine
and grow to form a melody.
“The neurological ties between music and language go both ways; a
person’s native tongue influences the way he perceives music. The same
progression of notes may sound different depending on the language the
listener learned growing up. Speakers of tonal languages (most Asian
languages) are much more likely than Westerners to have perfect pitch.
All languages have a melody that is unique. Infants echo the inherent
melodies of their native language when they cry, long before they speak.”
http://www.childcareexchange.com/eed/news_print.php?news_id=2689
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