The period of silence is a theory that suggests learners of a new language should take time to understand and digest what they have learned before attempting to speak. This can be intentional or unintentional and influenced by personality and cultural background. Even children go through this period when learning a new language.
The period of silence is a theory that states that anyone trying to learn a new language must go through a period of silence in which they figuratively withdraw while trying to make sense of everything they have learned about the language. This is a period for understanding after assimilating the material related to the new language. The idea is that the person learning a new language will use the period of silence to figure out how to digest everything she has learned before attempting to speak the language.
Sometimes, the period of silence is a deliberate attempt by the learner of a new language to pause before making an oral leap into the new language. This can last from a few days to a few months depending on the circumstances. For example, a new immigrant to a country may use the time to try to learn as much of the new language as possible before trying to communicate in the language. Such a person may enforce the period of silence upon himself as he strives to master the language.
On the other hand, some people unwillingly experience a period of silence in their quest to learn a new language. This period may not be intentional, but rather the result of shyness or an unwillingness to embarrass yourself by not speaking the language correctly. Another factor that could influence the onset and duration of a period of silence is the personality of the person learning the new language. Someone who is naturally reserved may have a harder time trying to express words in a new language than someone who is more outgoing.
The native or cultural background of the person learning the new language also plays a role because some cultures can instill certain patterns of behavior which can affect the length of the period of silence. An example is a culture where girls are expected to be submissive and less vocal or opinionated than men. Such a girl may find it difficult to overcome such a cultural barrier, even in a new country. She may take longer than another woman from a country where gender equality is the norm. Even young children go through a period of silence when they are learning a new language. Children who are learning a new language use time to process the language in their minds before they can speak it.
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