Is There a Critical Period for Learning a Language?

Question

Knowing what we do about language acquisition, is there a critical period for learning a language, and if so, what happens if we miss that window of opportunity?

Answer 1

There is much debate about this, but generally lanuage leraning can occur at any age, depending on learning style and motivation. Adults will com with prior experiences which may hinder or help, while children come in clean. As well, children''s brain learning language differently that the adult brain.

Here is a good article written mainly for educators:
http://www.language-learning-advisor.com/age-and-language-learning.html

Here is an anecdotal, my father learned English when he was 25 and he speaks it perfectly now for the past 40 years. His German is rusty now.

Answer 2

Well, my son has language delay. He is 5, and has autism. I worry that he has missed the crucial developmental stage for language learning now, and that he will never really learn to communicate properly. I think if the window of opportunity is missed, language can still be learned, but there is a kind of plateau reached where you cannot grasp certain intricacies.

I think the critical period is up to 3 or so, but I have heard of children catching up after that time. As for my son, I don't know. Wish I did.

Answer 3

Yes, the most critical period of human development of the brain is from birth to three years old. Children learn language, interaction, attachment, and self in this time period. Children are pretty resilient. With the right speech therapist, a child can catch up. The question remains however if they will ever reach the full potential they would have been if they had been given the care and attention they needed from birth to their 3rd year.

Answer 4

wen ur young as the saying goes u cant teach a dog new tricks lol just kidding but it is when your young because you are still absorbing things wen you are older you are sharing your knowledge