Learning a Language: the earlier the better?

February 19, 2019

• Topical

Recent research has suggested that there may be a cut off age for learning a language fluently.

The journal ‘Cognition’ carried out an online grammar test and published their results in May of this year. The quiz asked around 670,000 people about English grammar. Approximately 246,000 of the participants were native English speakers; the other participants were bilingual. The questions in the test asked participants whether particular English sentences were grammatically correct.

Cognition found that if an individual wants to have native-like knowledge of a particular language’s grammar, they should start learning that language before the age of 10. Most people continue to be highly skilled at learning a language until they are aged 17 or 18. This research echoed the widely held view that children find it easier to learn a language than adults.

However, the researchers did also state that those learning a language later in life can still become proficient and some can even become fluent. Furthermore, it is unclear whether reduced language learning ability is caused by biological factors. It could also be the product of social and cultural factors, such as needing to work full time or specialising in a particular subject at university which is not related to languages. If biology is not the key determinant in this case, it could be argued that the social and cultural barriers to learning a language can be overcome.

Marilyn Vihman, a Professor of language and linguistic science, noted that there are cases which show that people learning a language in later life can become proficient. Dr Danijela Trenkic, from the University of York, was keen to note that Cognition’s test only looked at grammar and that it is possible to communicate well in another language, even if some grammar is incorrect.

It seems that learning a language earlier is better; however, it is still possible for older people to learn a language and there a multitude of benefits to doing so, including improved job prospects, a better ability to engage with other cultures and less chance of developing dementia.

(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43947365)