Language Acquisition: The Age Factor (Multilingual Matters) - Hardcover

Singleton, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1853590207 ISBN 13: 9781853590207

Publisher: Multilingual Matters, 1989

Synopsis

There is a widespread belief, both in the scientific world and in society at large, that the way in which and the extent to which one learns a language is dependent on one's age. In discussions of first language acquisition reference is constantly made to the notions of 'speech milestones' ― predictable age-related stages ― and 'critical period' ― a phase of 'language readiness' before and beyond which language acquisition is claimed to be impossible or very difficult. This latter concept is also widely referred to in connection with second language acquisition, albeit sometimes in the more tentative terms of 'optimal period' or 'sensitive period'. This book sets out to examine the evidence for an age factor in language acquisition, the sources of which range from studies of 'wolf-children' to research into the mental capacities of the very old. It goes on to explore the various explanations that have been advanced to account for such evidence and the interplay between the age question and broader theoretical issues. On a more practical note, the last major section of the book looks at the educational ramifications of the age question, with particular regard to formal second language teaching.

About this title

About the Author

David Singleton is Fellow Emeritus, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, Professor  Emeritus, University of Pannonia, Hungary and Professor, University of Applied Sciences, Konin, Poland. He is the author of numerous monographs and textbooks, including Key Topics in Second Language Acquisition (2014, with Vivian Cook, Multilingual Matters) and Beyond Age Effects in Instructional L2 Learning (2017, with Simone Pfenninger, Multilingual Matters).

Edition details

• Publisher: Multilingual Matters
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 1853590207
• ISBN 13: 9781853590207
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 336