Although very hard, some Westerners never speak Chinese or Japanese. British researchers have discovered that some genes play an important role in learning tonal languages.
Small differences in pronunciation in these languages completely change the meaning of words, making it difficult for Westerners to learn to speak.
Scientists have noted the anatomical differences in the brain between those who learn tonal language and those who do not.
Researchers Dan Dediu and Rober Ladd of the University of Edinburgh have discovered gene mutations in two genes involved in brain development that allow learning of tonal languages.
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