The critical period hypothesis suggests that there is a limited time in which the human mind can easily acquire language, usually the first three to ten years of development. This theory is supported by research on brain development, but difficult to prove conclusively. It also applies to secondary language acquisition, where it is believed that learning a second language is easier when young.
The critical period hypothesis is a theory in the study of language acquisition that postulates the existence of a critical period of time in which the human mind can more easily acquire language. This idea is often taken into account in regards to primary language acquisition, and those who agree with this hypothesis argue that language must be learned early in life, otherwise the ability to acquire language is greatly impeded. . The critical period hypothesis is also used in secondary language acquisition, regarding the idea of a period of time in which a secondary language can be acquired more easily.
With regards to primary language acquisition, which refers to the process by which a person learns their first language, the critical period hypothesis is quite dramatic. This idea indicates that a person has only a certain amount of time in which he or she can learn a first language, usually the first three to ten years of development. During this period, language can be learned and acquired through language exposure; it is enough simply to listen to others talk continuously and regularly. However, once this period of time has ended, those who agree with the critical period hypothesis argue that primary language acquisition may be impossible or severely impaired.
There is a large amount of research on human brain development that supports this hypothesis, but it is still difficult to prove. One of the only conclusive ways to prove this hypothesis would be to have a person isolate themselves from infancy to about the age of ten, with no exposure to human speech. Such an education would be unthinkable, however, so this type of experiment cannot be conducted and the hypothesis remains largely unproven.
Unfortunate situations in which a child has been abused and isolated by his or her caregivers have provided opportunities to support the critical period hypothesis. In at least one case, the child’s medical care and study demonstrated that complete language acquisition was nearly impossible. While this event supports the hypothesis, secondary factors such as possible brain damage make the evidence flawed.
The critical period hypothesis is also often applied to secondary language acquisition, albeit somewhat less dramatically. As for the secondary language, many linguists and speech therapists agree that a second language can be acquired more easily when one is young. Brain studies indicate that in youth the brain is still developing more rapidly and new linguistic information can be more easily processed and incorporated into the brain. Once this period has ended, however, secondary language acquisition is certainly still possible, even if it may be more difficult.
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