I chose
this link because there are two articles from this link that I enjoyed and they
both relate to language acquisition. The main article is in the center and has
three components: Emphasis on Nature, Emphasis on Experience and Usage, and Why
Further Study is Needed. What I find most interesting in the main article is located
in the Emphasis on Nature section. It said that children learn better in
natural settings when acquiring a second language whereas adults MAY have an
advantage learning in a classroom setting. I find it interesting that adults
have to make a conscious effort to acquire another language compared to
children. So, it means that learning a second language will be easier to learn
as a child since children absorb information like a sponge.
This
leads into the second article in the right, purple column. Researcher Saffran
believes that learning a language is innate and we have an easier time learner
a whole language when we are younger. She did an experiment where she gave
nonsense words to babies in a particular pattern. The babies were able to pick
up on the patterns of where the “words” ended and began. This proves that
babies are wired to naturally acquire language. Like the first article, there
was a focus on testing nature versus nurture. What I find interesting in this
article is babies regularly pay attention to unacquainted sounds for longer
periods than familiar sounds. I had no idea babies did that!
I
definitely agree with both articles about how the rate of language acquisition
is easier for babies and children compared to adults. I definitely want to learn
more about this topic because I love children and I find the human brain to be
fascinating. This topic affects the world because every human adult was once a
baby and a child! To think, learning at least one whole language fluently is
learned before the age of 8!
To end this with a quote:
“You can never understand one language until you understand at
least two.”- Geoffrey Willans
I love the quote at the end. I feel I understand English a lot better after I studied German even though I didn't master the language. Learning some of another language have me a lot more of an understanding of languages and communication as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI like the picture haha! It was funny and true:) I wish I had acquired more than one language as a child, but alas I am monolingual. Hopefully I'll get the chance to learn another language well enough to explore that ending quote. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI thought this was very interesting. In one of the articles I read it said that children's minds are more plastic and that's why they acquire language easier and not what was previously thought was a critical period where children could only learn a language at a certain time because that's how it worked. The reason children can learn it is because of the plasticity that is there when they are young and then fades away as one gets older. In all I enjoyed this article and its wonderful discussion.
ReplyDelete"children absorb information like a sponge." That really stood out to me. Children surely do absorb info like a sponge. It's easy to forget this. It's interesting how adults can't absorb things like young children. It reminds me of the saying "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Anyways thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour article was interesting. I enjoyed reading both, since I agrer with it and you. When I was studying about the brain, I found out that infant's brain had more plasticity to absorb information faster and make connections. As they grow older, the plasticity fades away. Additionally, our brain is design as "use it or lose it" when it comes to knowledge. Regardless, infants and children's brain is amazing. The research done just proves that language acquisition is innate and we need nurture to help develop such skills. So nurture and nature are two important factors for learning language. Thank you for sharing your articles and perspective.
ReplyDeleteHi Anita, these are interesting contrasts in the discovery of language for children, and raises the question what is the catalyst for the immediate acquisition of language in children is it their exposure to the sounds of language or is it where they are at or is it just the brain with all the enzymes circulating.
ReplyDeleteThis is was a very interesting blog entry. I agree with both of them. It is fascinating that we are born with language and pretty much hone our skills through experience. I plan to make my children at least bilingual so that they don't have to struggle to learn a second language like I am right now.
ReplyDelete