Language Development and Age - Hardcover

Herschensohn, Julia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521872979 ISBN 13: 9780521872973

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2007

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Book Description:

This book examines whether early childhood is a critical period for language acquisition after which individuals cannot learn language as native speakers. First language is largely susceptible to age constraints, showing major deficits past age twelve. Second-language acquisition also shows age effects, but with a range of individual differences.

About the Author:

Julia Herschensohn is Professor and Chair of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Washington.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0521872979
• ISBN 13: 9780521872973
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304