Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Learning languages.. interesting paradox of sorts.

BadNick · 05-10-2006, 07:42 PM

As far as learning languages, and I hope this is not too far off the intended topic, but with first language acquisition by around 6 or so, I heard something along the lines that around that same age there are brain connection developments that occur that result in no "accent" when speaking the second language, but if the second language is learned after that age, the accent is almost never lost. I learned English in the U.S. when I was about 5 or so, at the same time as my parents; but I have no accent whatsoever, while my parents still spoke with a relatively heavy accent even after 50 years here.

Is there any basis to this and does it apply to most people who learn a second or third... language later in life?

05-10-2006, 07:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	As far as learning languages, and I hope this is not too far off the intended topic, but with first language acquisition by around 6 or so, I heard something along the lines that around that same age there are brain connection developments that occur that result in no "accent" when speaking the second language, but if the second language is learned after that age, the accent is almost never lost. I learned English in the U.S. when I was about 5 or so, at the same time as my parents; but I have no accent whatsoever, while my parents still spoke with a relatively heavy accent even after 50 years here. Is there any basis to this and does it apply to most people who learn a second or third... language later in life? Last edited by BadNick; 05-10-2006 at 07:45 PM..