Re: sensitive period in language acquisition?

Gerry wrote:

Hi Brent, I'm really not sure what this template (or pattern) is like.
And as I said before my evidence is really unscientific. I use the null
hypothesis and human instinct. And I really cannot defend it because it
doesn't lend itself to objective reasoning. But logically it stands to
reason that a native speaking child will learn his language with more
facility than a child at the same age learning a second language. What
is it about my conclusion that you fail to grasp? The fact that I
didn't arrive at the "conclusion" through scientific means? I'm curious
about what your objections are. Gerry

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Brent writes:

Hi Gerry
I don't have any real objection Gerry. I guess I misunderstood your
early postings, I thought you were asking if there was an
inherent/built-in structure in the brain (what I thought you meant by
template) related to specific languages patterns. My long winded
explanations were only an attempt to provide you with information
showing how higher brain functions (such as language skills) don't have
much to do with inherent structures. Sorry for mis-reading you. Really
communicating is the hardest part of a language.

So I don't make the same mistake: What I get from this posting is the
suggestion that a young child who is emerged in the native language is
going to have a much easier time of it, than a child of the same age,
who has already learned a language and has to pick up a second one.
If that is what you said, I agree with you completely - it does seem
only reasonable that the first child would have an easier time of it.
I take it, that you assume that the child who already has learned a
language will have formed a neural pattern in their mind for
interpreting what they hear. I would suggest that this pattern is a
learned pattern – but I would agree with you that once it is formed, it
could make it more difficult to learn the next language. As you said –
it is just simple logic.

As to the exact age when this pattern is established, I can't really
answer your question with facts. You are now wandering over into
Developmental Psychology and I didn't really study that area. In fact,
if I had understood you correctly the first time, I wouldn't have
posted at all, because I don't have anything helpful to offer. I can
suggest that it would have to be post birth, because the language
sounds would need to be associated with things the child can see and
experience. It's my personal – not based on education – belief that
this pattern development, or template as you call it, is ongoing. I
feel that the more we use the same language, the more inherent it
becomes, the more it becomes second nature to us – and the more
difficult it becomes to introduce a new language. On the other hand,
we also become more proficient and skillful in the primary language.
That's only a personal belief. But if its true, there would be no
definate cut off time. It just keeps getter harder, the more we
use/learn the primary language.

Regards
Brent