Adults quickly tune in to rhythm and melody of a new language, but early exposure to writing may hinder this skill

A new study led by Dr. Kateřina Chládková of the Faculty of Arts at Charles University reveals that adults can quickly tune in to the melodic and rhythmic features—known as prosody—of unfamiliar languages, but that premature exposure to writing may hinder this natural language-learning skill. The findings challenge current language-teaching practices and suggest adult learners might benefit more from listening-first approaches.