Age Constraints on Second-Language Acquisition

Age Constraints on Second-Language AcquisitionJames Emil FlegeUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamGrace H. Yeni-KomshianUniversity of MarylandandSerena LiuUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamThis study evaluated the critical period hypothesis for second language (L2) Acquisition . Theparticipants were 240 native speakers of Korean who differed according to age of arrival (AOA) inthe United States (1 to 23 years), but were all experienced in English (mean length of residence515 years). The native Korean participants pronunciation of English was evaluated by having listenersrate their sentences for overall degree of foreign accent; knowledge of English morphosyntax wasevaluated using a 144-item grammaticality judgment test.

performance of adults—even those who are ex-perienced in their L2—has suggested to some researchers that the ability to acquire an L2 effectively is limited by a critical period.

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  Critical, Language, Second, Acquisition, Periods, Constraints, Critical period, Constraints on second language acquisition

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