This lesson introduces the critical period hypothesis (CPH), its origins, and the biological idea behind the term. It establishes why claims about age and language learning remain debated.
The critical period hypothesis proposes that there is a limited developmental window during which a person can acquire language most fully or naturally. In its strong form, it claims that native-like command of a language is possible only if learning begins before a certain age. The hypothesis connects language learning to biological development, especially changes in the brain’s capacity to adapt.
All flashcards
What does the strong form of the critical period hypothesis claim?
Native-like command is possible only if language learning begins before a developmental age boundary.
Why is brain lateralization not a settled explanation for age effects?
Researchers have not established a definitive link between the degree of lateralization and language-learning ability.
How do procedural and declarative memory differ in some accounts of L2 learning?
Procedural memory supports automatic skills; declarative memory supports conscious knowledge such as facts and vocabulary.
What did the ASL exposure study find about age and performance?
Earlier-exposed children performed best, with performance declining roughly linearly for later exposure in the studied age range.
Why can deprivation cases provide limited evidence about a language critical period?
Isolation can also cause intellectual, emotional, and social harm, making language deprivation difficult to isolate.
Quiz questions
In the strong form of the critical period hypothesis, what limits the possibility of native-like language command?Answer: Learning must begin before a particular developmental age boundary.
Which statement best reflects the evidence about lateralization and language-learning ability?Answer: Lateralization alone has not been established as the cause of age-related language-learning differences.
In some accounts of second-language learning, which memory system supports conscious vocabulary learning?Answer: Declarative memory
What conclusion is supported by the reported ASL study of children exposed at different ages?Answer: Performance declined roughly linearly with later exposure within the studied age range.
What did Krashen's work illustrate about age and grammar-learning tasks?Answer: Adults and older children can have advantages on some grammar-learning tasks.