Language Development and Age

by Herschensohn, Julia

• ISBN13: 9781107404885
• ISBN10: 1107404886
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-07-19
• Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr

Summary

This book was first published in 2007. The anecdotal view of language acquisition is that children learn language with apparent ease, no instruction and in very little time, while adults find learning a new language to be cognitively challenging, labour intensive and time-consuming. In this book Herschensohn examines whether early childhood is a critical period for language acquisition after which individuals cannot learn a language as native speakers. She argues that a first language is largely susceptible to age constraints, showing major deficits past the age of twelve. Second-language acquisition also shows age effects, but with a range of individual differences. The competence of expert adult learners, the unequal achievements of child learners of second languages, and the lack of consistent evidence for a maturational cut-off, all cast doubt on a critical period for second-language acquisition.

Table of Contents

Just in time: is there a critical period for language acquisition?

Right on time: process and schedule of first language acquisition

All in good time: a window of opportunity for first language acquisition

Behind time: process and schedule of second language acquisition

Pressed for time: age constraints in second language acquisition

Biding time: further consideration of age and acquisition

It's about time: evaluation of age sensitivity in language acquisition

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