Age (Lourdes Ortega)

Age (Lourdes Ortega)

1. The Critical Period Hypotheses

   • biological window
     • time-limited opportunity for acquisiton
   • puberty
     • traditional "cut-off" point
   • sensitive period
     • modern view
   • neuroplasticity
     • the brain's ability to adapt and rewire
   • lateralization
     • brain specialization for language funtions

2. Rate vs Ultimate attainment

   • older learners
     • faster in early stages
   • cognitive advantage
     • better at abstract rules and analysis

3. Ultimate attainment

   • young starters
     • higher long-term proficiency
   • Native-like competence
     • tipically only achieved by children

4. Linguistic domains

   • Phonology (accent)
     • Most age-sensitive area
       • earliest "window" to close
         • López Sánchez Janet
   • Morphosyntax (syntax)
     • moderately sensitive
       • late learners can still achieve high accuracy
     • Lexis and semantics
       • least sensitive
         • vocabulary can be mastered at any age
   • Fossilization
     • when errors become permanent in adult learners

5. Cognitive Mechanisms

   • implicit learning
     • associated with children
       • procedural memory
         • learning by doing
   • explicit learning
     • associated with adults
       • declarative memory
         • conscious learning of facts, rules, and patterns

6. Socio-Affective Factors

   • language ego
     • adults have a stronger sense of identity tied to their L1
   • affective filter
     • higher anxiety and fear of making mistakes in adults
   • input quality
     • children receive simplified, "sheltered" language from caregivers

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