Unit 2 Flashcards
What is the Critical Period Hypothesis?
The Critical Period Hypothesis is a supposition that claims that, in biological terms, there is a period when our brain is more prepared or ready to acquire input and learn another language. It lasts from birth to puberty. The principal view is that within this period it is easier to acquire/learn another language, while after it, the process is more complex.
The concept of CP was first developed by…
Penfield and Roberts (1959) and then it was improved by Lenneberg (1967).
What was Lenneberg’s main argument?
Lenneberg focused on biological aspects of language. He argued that language acquisition needed to take place between age two and puberty – a period which he believed to coincide with the lateralization process of the brain.
What is Hemispheric lateralization?
Lateralization is the process in which certain functions are assigned to the left hemisphere of the brain, and certain other functions to the right hemisphere. It occurs as the human brain matures.
What does it mean to be “succesful in acquiring/learning a second language?
The meaning of success varies from person to person. It depends on people’s goals and needs. However, what is certain is that a native accent is not an essential criterion for effective interpersonal communication. What truly matters is the acquisition of the communicative and functional purpose of language to be succesful in acquiring/learning another language.
