When do people learn languages

The facts that language is universal in human societies and that we all learn it in the same way are two of the biggest pieces of evidence for the theory of Universal Grammar , one of the concepts that launched MIT linguist Noam Chomsky to fame. Universal Grammar argues that humans are born with an innate ability to learn languages and that the mechanisms that identify and interpret grammar are hardwired into the brain.

Regardless of diverging thoughts on where it comes from, most of modern linguistics is in agreement that human language is essentially a system of symbols used to communicate. Nobody ever had to learn how to learn their first language. It happens whether we like it or not. While all of us were born with them, we lost them somewhere between diapers and high school Spanish. Listening, analyzing and collecting statistical samples is only half of the story of child language learning.

In combination with the masses of statistical data they gather, children employ social language learning strategies to truly master their mother tongues. This is the reason behind another universal linguistic truth: no child will ever learn a language without human interaction. The two key components of child language acquisition—statistical and social learning—are the same ones at play when adults learn languages.

But both the adult brain and, more importantly, the adult social life feature some key differences from those of children. Since both the statistical nuts and bolts and the social use of language are the main cruxes of language learning, you may not be surprised that they figure in differently to the lives of three-year-olds and thirty-year-olds.

Here are some of the key differences adult language learners should be aware of as they embark on learning a new language:.

In essence, how adults and children learn language is really the same. Studies show that there is in fact a critical period for all language learning, even sign language. The trademark feature of the critical period is what gives babies their ultimate language learning advantage: increased brain plasticity.

So, how do we as adults account for our decreased brain plasticity and the practical factors that make it harder for us to learn languages? Using what we know about how both adults and children learn language, we can make our brains learn language faster and better as adults.

You will build lifelong friendships. And for these reasons alone, you will see the reward of learning languages for many years to come. Language skills can be a significant competitive advantage that sets you apart from your monolingual peers.

They are among the top eight skills required of all occupations—no matter your sector or skill level—and the demand for bilingual professionals is rising exponentially. In fact, between and , the number of U. With more than 60 million U. The many cognitive benefits of learning languages are undeniable. People who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills.

They switch between competing tasks and monitor changes in their environment more easily than monolinguals, as well as display signs of greater creativity and flexibility. Language is the most direct connection to other cultures. Being able to communicate in another language exposes us to and fosters an appreciation for the traditions, religions, arts, and history of the people associated with that language.

Greater understanding, in turn, promotes greater tolerance, empathy, and acceptance of others—with studies showing that children who have studied another language are more open toward and express more positive attitudes toward the culture associated with that language. Traveling as a speaker of the local language can revolutionize a trip abroad. But even just one additional half-hour, and the presence of a native speaker, helped the children grasp elements of Mandarin that are harder for adults, such as the tones.

Within our first year, our brains begin to specialise, tuning into the sounds we hear most frequently. Infants already babble in their mother tongue. Even newborns cry with an accent , imitating the speech they heard while in the womb. This specialisation also means shedding the skills we do not need. Japanese adults tend to find this more difficult. Even newborns cry with an accent, imitating the speech they heard while in the womb Credit: Getty.

There is no question, Sorace says, that the early years are crucial for acquiring our own language. Studies of abandoned or isolated children have shown that if we do not learn human speech early on, we cannot easily make up for this later. She gives the example of a family moving to a new country. Typically, children will learn the language much faster than their parents.

But that may be because they hear it constantly at school, while their parents might be working alone. The children may also feel a greater sense of urgency since mastering the language is crucial to their social survival: making friends, being accepted, fitting in. Their parents, on the other hand, are more likely to be able to socialise with people who understand them, such as fellow immigrants.

Adults can of course also create that emotional bond, and not just through love or friendship with a native speaker. Language students who create a bond with other speakers are more likely to persevere Credit: Getty. You need to spend years learning it. Earlier this year, a study at MIT based on an online quiz of nearly , people found that to achieve native-like knowledge of English grammar, it is best to start by about 10 years old , after which that ability declines.

However, the study also showed that we can keep getting better at languages, including our own, over time. For example, we only fully master the grammar of our own language by about This adds to a previous, separate online study that shows even native speakers learn almost one new word a day in their own language until middle age.

Even native speakers learn almost one new word a day in their own language until middle age Credit: Getty. Trenkic points out that the MIT study analysed something extremely specific — the ability to pass for a native speaker in terms of grammatical accuracy.