Language Families And Linguistic Diversity Questions Medium
The critical period hypothesis in language acquisition suggests that there is a specific window of time during which individuals are most receptive to acquiring language. According to this hypothesis, if language acquisition does not occur within this critical period, typically ending around puberty, it becomes significantly more challenging to acquire a native-like proficiency in a second language. This hypothesis is based on the observation that children tend to acquire language effortlessly and rapidly, while adults often struggle with language learning. It is believed that during the critical period, the brain is more flexible and capable of forming new neural connections related to language acquisition. However, as individuals age, the brain becomes less plastic, making it more difficult to acquire language skills. The critical period hypothesis has been supported by various studies and is considered a significant factor in understanding linguistic diversity and the variations in language acquisition abilities among individuals.