Name:Saghar Tavakoli

School/Affiliation:University of Toronto Mississauga

Co-Authors:Reem Idris, Jule Hafermann, & Christina M. Vanden Bosch der Nederlanden

Virtual or In-person:In-person

Abstract:

Language and music are two important modes of human communication that share rhythmic and pitch-based properties. Children rely heavily on language input in their environment when acquiring their first language. Two important input sources are Child-Directed Speech (CDS) and song, both of which may support early word learning through enhanced predictability (Politimou et al., 2019). While regularities in rhythm can facilitate attention and language processing (Jones and Boltz, 1989), other studies have failed to show advantages of melodic rhythms for word learning (e.g., Ma et al., 2020). This raises the question of whether predictability is always beneficial or whether surprise might play a unique role. The current study examined how rhythmic surprises in song influence children’s and adults’ learning of German words. Thirty-three four-year-old children and 31 adults were familiarized with German words presented in three conditions: Adult-Directed Speech (ADS), CDS, and Song (off-beat vs on-beat). During testing, participants matched spoken words to one of the three pictures (chance = 33%). Results revealed that children learned best in the off-beat song condition (accuracy: 44%) and surprisingly worst in the CDS condition (34%). Adults, on the other hand, performed best in ADS (77%) and worst in off-beat song (54%). These findings suggest that rhythmic irregularities, rather than predictable structures, may capture children's attention and enhance word learning. In contrast, adults appear to benefit from familiar, regular speech. Overall, the results highlight the potential role of musical surprises in language development and shows how sensitivity to rhythm shifts across developmental stages.