Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 10 1 2 3 9 10
#173955 02/23/08 06:13 AM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 631
Hydra Offline OP
addict
OP Offline
addict
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 631
Are there any differences in terms of brain dynamics between learning and using a native as opposed to a second language?

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
probably depends on how old you are when you learn the second language

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
differences

The only information I've seen is that learning any number of languages before circa age 7 usually results in near-native fluency, but after that magic number, things get more difficult and accents and other problems occur. It was suggested in an article I read that this was directly tied to myelination.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
For reasons other than this topic, ZM, is that article still somewhere to be found?

Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
if it's myelination that interests you, here's the latest news - notice the archives on the left.

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Thank you a lot tsuwm.

EDIT: Thanks, both of you.

Last edited by BranShea; 02/23/08 03:06 PM.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
that article still somewhere to be found?

I'm sure it is, because it was in Scientific American. It was about thirty years ago that I read it, but you can probably find the same sort of information in a good textbook on the biology of language. I'll take a look in my library and see if I can find a citation. You might try googling myelination language acquisition (link).


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Age 5 is the optimum age for learning another language.
I have a good friend who's a gerontologist, and another who tried to learn Spanish for her grand-daughter's sake; both say that it is virtually impossible for an "old" brain to learn a new language. Also witness to this is the old lady at church who comes from Ghana, I think--she came over a couple of years ago and has nearly no English. She sure loves it on fourth Sundays, though, when the Africans sing in their own languages!

Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 631
Hydra Offline OP
addict
OP Offline
addict
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 631
>virtually impossible for an "old" brain to learn a new language

But people do learn languages as an adult, and become very proficient. I've met some of them!

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
How old should that "old" brain be exactly, Jackie?
I know of many "young" brains too that never learned the language well. There are more factors than just brain dynamics involved.

Page 1 of 10 1 2 3 9 10

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 332 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,713
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,931
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5