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From: rwojcik@bcsaic.UUCP (Rick Wojcik)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Language Learning
Message-ID: <2755@bcsaic.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Nov-87 15:56:13 EST
Article-I.D.: bcsaic.2755
Posted: Fri Nov 13 15:56:13 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 16-Nov-87 06:19:39 EST
References: <8986@shemp.UCLA.EDU> <1125@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> <1966@uwmacc.UUCP> <1399@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> <1411@houdi.UUCP>
Reply-To: rwojcik@bcsaic.UUCP (Rick Wojcik)
Organization: Boeing Computer Services AI Center, Seattle
Lines: 29
Keywords: Goal Based
Summary: Phonological acquisition is not tied to identity crises

In article <1411@houdi.UUCP> marty1@houdi.UUCP (M.BRILLIANT) writes:
>
>What was once believed to be quick language learning in children is now
>believed to be only quick pronunciation learning.  Children who seem to
>...

I don't know why you distinguish between language learning and
pronunciation learning, since one category is surely included in the
other.  What is the distinction being made here?

>Even pronunciation learning may have nothing to do with crystallization.
>The onset of identity crisis might make an adolescent less eager than a
>child to adopt a new language.  And an adolescent might be more likely
>to recognize that superficial fluency is not enough, and adopt a
>halting pronunciation to signal that the language has not been mastered.
>
>M. B. Brilliant					Marty

First of all, it is important to note that language learners never
acquire native pronunciation after puberty.  As far as I know there are
*no* exceptions to this generalization.  It is possible to learn to
speak the target language well, but native speakers will always perceive
an accent.  Secondly, if this is caused by an adolescent's "identity
crisis", then the crisis must get worse.  Adults get progressively worse
at acquiring foreign pronunciation as they age.  Do people with really
bad foreign accents have correspondingly bad psychological problems?  I
think I'll go brush up on my French :-).

Rick Wojcik - rwojcik@boeing.com