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From: rwojcik@bcsaic.UUCP (Rick Wojcik)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Language Learning
Message-ID: <2775@bcsaic.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 16-Nov-87 11:34:57 EST
Article-I.D.: bcsaic.2775
Posted: Mon Nov 16 11:34:57 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Nov-87 22:07:23 EST
References: <8986@shemp.UCLA.EDU> <1125@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> <1966@uwmacc.UUCP> <1409@houdi.UUCP> <1410@houdi.UUCP>
Reply-To: rwojcik@bcsaic.UUCP (Rick Wojcik)
Followup-To: sci.lang
Organization: Boeing Computer Services AI Center, Seattle
Lines: 33
Keywords: Hindsight, Phonology
Summary: Phonology is tied to muscular coordination.

In article <1410@houdi.UUCP> marty1@houdi.UUCP (M.BRILLIANT) writes:
>
>Professionals in language learning speak now of a "sensitive"
>period, rather than a "critical" period, and specifically with
>reference to phonology.
>
Maybe I have just lost touch with what is going on in the literature.
What language professionals are you talking about?  What is the
difference between a "sensitive" period and a "critical" period?  

There is rather overwhelming evidence that language learning is tied
biological maturation.  Not only is there the fact that foreign accent
(phonological accent, i.e.) doesn't go away after puberty, but there is
also evidence from language disorders.  People who suffer aphasia from
left-side brain damage can often recover articulation before puberty.
After puberty, chances of total recovery are slim, if at all possible.

It may not be the case that the critical period for syntax is the same
as that for phonology.  The "Joseph Conrad Phenomenon" is a case in
point.  It is impossible to tell from Conrad's writing that his native
language was Polish.  However, he pronounced English with a foreign
accent.  This was the apparent result of his having learned English
during his teen years.

I believe that Tom Bever came up with a threshold of around 17
to 19 years for syntax, but I do not recall the study in which he made
this claim.  In any case, the difference between phonological
acquisition and other aspects of acquisition should not be surprising.
Phonology is intimately tied to muscular coordination, whereas syntax is
not.  This is why the acquisition of dance and musical instruments runs
parallel to phonological accent.

Rick Wojcik    RWOJCIK@BOEING.COM