Whereas a growing amount of attention has been directed to the role of perceptual-cognitive
aptitude in successful second language (L2) lexicogrammar learning, scholars have begun to
investigate the same topic in the context of L2 pronunciation learning. To date, there is ongoing
discussion on the mechanism underlying L2 speech learning in relation to music aptitude and
domain-general auditory processing ability. Situated within 48 moderately experienced Chinese
learners of English in the UK (length of residence = one year), the current study examined
the relationship between music aptitude, auditory perception, and L2 pronunciation proficiency.
Results revealed that music aptitude and auditory processing were partially overlapping, whereas
both abilities were independent of participants’ past and current L2 language learning experience.
Whereas individual differences in auditory processing demonstrated significant associations with
various dimensions of L2 pronunciation proficiency, music aptitude was only weakly predictive
of prosodic aspects of L2 pronunciation proficiency. Comparatively, none of the experience
variables were related to acquisition within the current dataset
