I've heard that as a reason why some people (not native English speakers) may be educated etc. but still have the thickest accents... I feel sorry for those people, because I know that I, for one, fall into the trap of thinking "...what a moron" when I hear those people speak... and then I'm like "Wow!" when they tell me what they do etc.
2006-09-03 06:28:50 · 15 answers · asked by Mishy 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Yes it it true.
I saw this special on the National Geographic Channel on feral children. The children they studied were isolated from human contact for like 5 years of their early childhood and though some of them could imitate human language, they did not truly grasp it.
Language must be picked up at an early age. The studies on that special showed that since they were not around language for so long, the part of their brain that learns language grew smaller and could not grow large enough to hold language anymore.
My parents have been in the US for about 20+ years and they have still not been able to fully grasp the English language. They've taken numberous English classes and they still use broken English.
2006-09-03 06:34:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can learn a new language at any age. You can even speak it and write it better than native speakers - just check Yahoo! Answers!
However, it will be more difficult to pick up the accent. usually, you can't (except mabe if you take private lessons hich costa few fortune, but even then it's not 100% sure you'll get the accent right). Even when you're 18, it's difficult to speak like a native English speaker (or whatever language you happen to be learning).
2006-09-03 06:38:48 · answer #2 · answered by Offkey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At about 12 years of age, the human brain starts into puberty. At that time, the language learning ability slows dramatically. Before 12, any child can learn any language as if he or she were a native and speak without an accent. The brain expends vast amounts of computing power in the effort, but it is very easy for children to learn another language. After 12, the child's brain expends much more computing power on finding a mate and propogating the species and much less on language learning skills. After 12, you can still learn other languages, but you will never learn them as easily or with the same level of fluency as a child. You will always speak languages you learned as an adult with an accent. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule, but they are few and far between. Also, if you learned additional languages as a child, it IS a little easier to learn more languages as an adult, but you will never be as fluent in languages learned as an adult as you are with languages you learned as a child.
2006-09-03 06:59:04 · answer #3 · answered by Taivo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's exactly what Italians or French would think about you if they hear you speaking their language with a thick accent, what a moron!!!
It doesn't matter if you have an accent as long as you speak properly, and even if you don't it's good to know you are open to learn new things, and your brain never stop learning if you keep exercising like, let's say learn a new language...
2006-09-03 06:41:35 · answer #4 · answered by muskrat_susy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mind at the age of 80 can be as keen as that of a mind of a 8 year old as long as it has been training and is in fit condition. One can train the mind like one can train the body. If he or she does not use the brain to the full extent, such as doing a tedious, monotonous routine, then the brain will work slower at that age. But if the person teaches the mind new things every day and interacts with new activities and such, then the mind can be as young as a 8 year old's.
2006-09-03 06:35:32 · answer #5 · answered by Robin C 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no, it is not true. The brain has the capacity to continue to learn. In fact, it is said that a great way to avoid dementia or alzheimer's --diseases that involve the atrophying of part of the brain - is precisely to use the part of the brain that involves learning a language. In other words, studying a new language in your 50's and 60's will keep your brain young.
2006-09-03 06:35:17 · answer #6 · answered by AH 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not true. I am 30 and still learning Spanish. It is true, however, that after a certain age (preteen to early teen), your language pattern is set, and it is very difficult to master a foreign accent.
2006-09-04 15:19:29 · answer #7 · answered by Jebnifer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All humans can continue learning anything at any age, or as they age, as long as their brain is still functioning on a decent level, and that includes learning language...
However, it may be more difficult, as we age...
At the same time, a human can learn anything that they want to learn, and you'll notice, if it is something you really want to learn...
You will learn it more quickly, than something you don't want to learn...
2006-09-03 06:33:55 · answer #8 · answered by Q&A 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The older you get the harder it gets but a vocabulary of a 5 year old is a lot less than that of a 16 year old, I'm English but since I don't speak it much I'm forgeting lots of words and finding it harder to understand all the time
2006-09-03 07:27:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with the first answer. You can learn a language at any age if you are willing to work hard enough.
2006-09-03 06:34:13 · answer #10 · answered by baby_girl_1219 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋