Music and Language Development in Early Childhood: Integrating Past Research in the Two Domains

This paper aims at establishing the link between music and language development in children by drawing together the music and linguistic developmental research literature. It informs educators the significance of integrating the two domains in the study of early childhood development Three aspects in the developmental processes were investigated: early perception of sound, premusical and prelinguistic vocalization and the emergence of singing and speech. In addition, the linguistic and musical environmental stimulation, that is babytalk and lullaby respectively, was also discussed. It was shown that music and language development are indistinguishable during the early stages, and only until later stages that they become more diversified. The implication for educators is that in order to enhance the learning of either or both, music and language should be closely related.