Comments on: The Critical Period Hypothesis http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/ Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:26:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Devil's Mind http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3728 Devil's Mind Mon, 09 Jan 2006 00:16:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3728 everything seems to logical and make sense to me :D i'll be waiting for some new posts regarding this topic everything seems to logical and make sense to me :D i’ll be waiting for some new posts regarding this topic

]]> By: Tololy http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3727 Tololy Sun, 08 Jan 2006 14:28:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3727 But of course L1 (First Language) affects the way we understand L2 (Second Language, 3rd, 4th, etc). There is something that I would like to post about some time in the future, it is this transitional stage when one learns a new language. In Italian it is called "Interlingua", not sure what it is in English. Universal Grammar is, to the best of my understanding, a global "logical" connection between various linguistic systems. I'll provide an example shortly: if there is a subject, a factor that "does" something, then logic musts that there is a consequence and/or an element on which the action is performed. Saying that "Al ate the apple", and "The apple was eaten by Al" holds the same Deep Structure, or meaning, the only difference is in the superficial or Surface Structure. I am not quite positive I make any sense at all, I tend to complicate things when I attempt to break them down. My tragic flaw, or one of them. But of course L1 (First Language) affects the way we understand L2 (Second Language, 3rd, 4th, etc).

There is something that I would like to post about some time in the future, it is this transitional stage when one learns a new language. In Italian it is called “Interlingua”, not sure what it is in English.

Universal Grammar is, to the best of my understanding, a global “logical” connection between various linguistic systems. I’ll provide an example shortly: if there is a subject, a factor that “does” something, then logic musts that there is a consequence and/or an element on which the action is performed. Saying that “Al ate the apple”, and “The apple was eaten by Al” holds the same Deep Structure, or meaning, the only difference is in the superficial or Surface Structure.

I am not quite positive I make any sense at all, I tend to complicate things when I attempt to break them down. My tragic flaw, or one of them.

]]> By: Devil's Mind http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3726 Devil's Mind Sun, 08 Jan 2006 05:57:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3726 so is there any connection between Universal Grammer and the anatomy of the human brain?! if those "feral babies" have not obtained any linguistic abilities from animals, then maybe our aproach to language is built-into our physiology. assuming they did, i would think: [quote] 'the woman is bus the going' and 'banana the eat.' [/quote] are translated lexeme from animal language, like say, how a native arabic speaker would make grammatical errors when speaking english, but associating arabic language constructs with what he is trying to say. i would find it tempting to relate the native language of a person, with how they aquire new languages. so is there any connection between Universal Grammer and the anatomy of the human brain?!
if those “feral babies” have not obtained any linguistic abilities from animals, then maybe our aproach to language is built-into our physiology.

assuming they did, i would think:
[quote] ‘the woman is bus the going’ and ‘banana the eat.’ [/quote]
are translated lexeme from animal language, like say, how a native arabic speaker would make grammatical errors when speaking english, but associating arabic language constructs with what he is trying to say.

i would find it tempting to relate the native language of a person, with how they aquire new languages.

]]> By: Tololy http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3725 Tololy Sun, 08 Jan 2006 05:14:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3725 It should sound a bit safe to think that if extraterrestrials went the extra mile and visited us, then they would find a way to tell us what exactly brings them here. I wouldn't worry about linguistic barriers, Devil's Mind. We probably are past the Critical Period, to extraterrestrials. If Chomsky's Universal Grammar is truly applicable in this regard, then the man is superhuman! It should sound a bit safe to think that if extraterrestrials went the extra mile and visited us, then they would find a way to tell us what exactly brings them here. I wouldn’t worry about linguistic barriers, Devil’s Mind. We probably are past the Critical Period, to extraterrestrials. If Chomsky’s Universal Grammar is truly applicable in this regard, then the man is superhuman!

]]> By: Devil's Mind http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3724 Devil's Mind Sat, 07 Jan 2006 06:53:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3724 true that scientist (rather than science) have not aknowledged existence of aliens, which i think is an interesting topic, but it has not denied it. my greatest concern, is how are we supposed to recognize an alien if walk right next to one? it goes around the same concern for language, because language as we know it is probaly different for them, and so definition of life is probably different too. true that scientist (rather than science) have not aknowledged existence of aliens, which i think is an interesting topic, but it has not denied it. my greatest concern, is how are we supposed to recognize an alien if walk right next to one? it goes around the same concern for language, because language as we know it is probaly different for them, and so definition of life is probably different too.

]]> By: Tololy http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3723 Tololy Sat, 07 Jan 2006 03:31:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3723 Devil's Mind, Allow me to try to answer some of your points as best I could. - how the "animal language" a feral baby aquires reflect his understanding of human language. I believe most so-called feral babies did not obtain any linguistic abilities before they were rescued. I have not looked this particular matter up, perhaps they do generate random sounds and the like. Do look it up and keep me posted. - all languages we learn are based on VERBS, NOUNS, ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS. what could be a totally new way of language. I would not know, but there is an interesting bit in your remark. There's this theory that Chomsky, a prominent linguist, developed that states that all languages share a sort of a "deep structure", a Universal Grammar. Visit this link for additional info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Structure - people who study old languages for example, try to map different lexemes into those categories. what if the language wasnt like anyother language we ever known. I believe this is related to your next point. - how can we analyze "alien" languages. obviously they have experiences that we as earthlings never experienced. True, if we agree that extraterrestrials do exist. Science, for the most part, dose not aknowledge that. I am unaware of any studies done in this regard. Devil’s Mind,

Allow me to try to answer some of your points as best I could.

- how the “animal language” a feral baby aquires reflect his understanding of human language.

I believe most so-called feral babies did not obtain any linguistic abilities before they were rescued. I have not looked this particular matter up, perhaps they do generate random sounds and the like. Do look it up and keep me posted.

- all languages we learn are based on VERBS, NOUNS, ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS. what could be a totally new way of language.

I would not know, but there is an interesting bit in your remark. There’s this theory that Chomsky, a prominent linguist, developed that states that all languages share a sort of a “deep structure”, a Universal Grammar. Visit this link for additional info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Structure

- people who study old languages for example, try to map different lexemes into those categories. what if the language wasnt like anyother language we ever known.

I believe this is related to your next point.

- how can we analyze “alien” languages. obviously they have experiences that we as earthlings never experienced.

True, if we agree that extraterrestrials do exist. Science, for the most part, dose not aknowledge that. I am unaware of any studies done in this regard.

]]> By: kinzi http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3722 kinzi Wed, 04 Jan 2006 01:11:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3722 She, I've read studies that say it is best for each parent to speak to the child in their mother tongue for optimal fluency, and better 'heart to heart talks' when they are teenagers. Tololy, I misread something you wrote in there, far be it from you to despair! She, I’ve read studies that say it is best for each parent to speak to the child in their mother tongue for optimal fluency, and better ‘heart to heart talks’ when they are teenagers.

Tololy, I misread something you wrote in there, far be it from you to despair!

]]> By: She http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3721 She Tue, 03 Jan 2006 15:05:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3721 This is a very interesting topic for me. Our son is 19 months old and my husband and I both speak to him in English (my husband is not a native English speaker, but his English is quite good) with the hope that it will be on a level equal to what his Hebrew will be, which is what he hears from nearly everyone else in his life. It will be interesting to watch how his language skills develop. Most of his words are in English, though a few are in Hebrew (mostly commands that we use with the dog!). It's funny to see how some people react to our language arrangement, as a number of them have suggested that he won't know Hebrew if we speak to him only in English. Rubbish, of course, as he will be growing up in a Hebrew speaking society. I've had many friends whose parents spoke to them in languages other than the native language of the country in which they were living, and of course, the kids are usually fluent in both languages (and grateful for having had the opportunity to be completely bilingual). This is a very interesting topic for me. Our son is 19 months old and my husband and I both speak to him in English (my husband is not a native English speaker, but his English is quite good) with the hope that it will be on a level equal to what his Hebrew will be, which is what he hears from nearly everyone else in his life.

It will be interesting to watch how his language skills develop. Most of his words are in English, though a few are in Hebrew (mostly commands that we use with the dog!).

It’s funny to see how some people react to our language arrangement, as a number of them have suggested that he won’t know Hebrew if we speak to him only in English. Rubbish, of course, as he will be growing up in a Hebrew speaking society. I’ve had many friends whose parents spoke to them in languages other than the native language of the country in which they were living, and of course, the kids are usually fluent in both languages (and grateful for having had the opportunity to be completely bilingual).

]]> By: Devil's Mind http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3720 Devil's Mind Tue, 03 Jan 2006 10:47:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3720 i am very interested in this topic, and willing to discus some details about it with someone who is knowledgable (to some extent) in this field. my point of interest is pretty much different from "critical period", i am more interested in ability to learn language from a state that we have no idea about that language (eg. a baby), and how past experiences reflect analysis of language. i would be interested in: - how the "animal language" a feral baby aquires reflect his understanding of human language. - all languages we learn are based on VERBS, NOUNS, ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS. what could be a totally new way of language. - people who study old languages for example, try to map different lexemes into those categories. what if the language wasnt like anyother language we ever known. - how can we analyze "alien" languages. obviously they have experiences that we as earthlings never experienced. i am interested in the discussion of how our experiences limit our ability to understand alien languages. and how could a language not based on verbs, nouns, ... etc, be analysed. not sure if many people have knowledge in this field, but language aquizition is really interesting topic. what do you think tololy?! i am very interested in this topic, and willing to discus some details about it with someone who is knowledgable (to some extent) in this field.
my point of interest is pretty much different from “critical period”, i am more interested in ability to learn language from a state that we have no idea about that language (eg. a baby), and how past experiences reflect analysis of language.
i would be interested in:

- how the “animal language” a feral baby aquires reflect his understanding of human language.
- all languages we learn are based on VERBS, NOUNS, ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS. what could be a totally new way of language.
- people who study old languages for example, try to map different lexemes into those categories. what if the language wasnt like anyother language we ever known.
- how can we analyze “alien” languages. obviously they have experiences that we as earthlings never experienced.

i am interested in the discussion of how our experiences limit our ability to understand alien languages. and how could a language not based on verbs, nouns, … etc, be analysed.

not sure if many people have knowledge in this field, but language aquizition is really interesting topic.

what do you think tololy?!

]]> By: lulu http://tololy.com/2006/01/02/the-critical-period-hypothesis/#comment-3719 lulu Tue, 03 Jan 2006 06:04:00 +0000 http://tololy.com/?p=171#comment-3719 Another addition regarding other factors that contribute to the learning of a language: I noticed that I tend to learn a language faster if I have a personal reason (motivation) for wanting to know that language. For example, I befriended a number of Latina women in college, and when hanging out with them many times they would start speaking in Spanish, and I really wanted to be able to join in the conversation. Also, I am very interested in Latin music, and want to know what I'm listening to. So I found that I picked up Spanish much more quickly than I ever picked up French! Just my 2 cents.. :) Another addition regarding other factors that contribute to the learning of a language: I noticed that I tend to learn a language faster if I have a personal reason (motivation) for wanting to know that language. For example, I befriended a number of Latina women in college, and when hanging out with them many times they would start speaking in Spanish, and I really wanted to be able to join in the conversation. Also, I am very interested in Latin music, and want to know what I’m listening to. So I found that I picked up Spanish much more quickly than I ever picked up French!

Just my 2 cents.. :)

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