4 ms·

should have (2018) in the title. > "There are three main ideas as to why language-learning ability declines at 18: social changes, interference from one’s prim

by bryan0 6y ago

should have (2018) in the title. > "There are three main ideas as to why language-learning ability declines at 18: social changes, interference from one’s primary language and continuing brain development." I wonder which is the most dominant?

aeyes 6y ago
Social changes probably, you just don't have the time. At 30 I took a year off, went to school to learn a new language which I never had any contact with. After one year I started to work in tech again only communicating using the language I started learning a year ago. After 2-3 years I had no communication issues at all anymore, working with dozens of people. The article focuses on native grammar skill and that is a problem I have. Every language has grammar (and vocabulary) which is rarely used. I struggle with some of the rarely used but more advanced grammar. I know that I could master it if I studied for 3-6 more months full time but I just don't see the benefit of investing that time. My time is better spent working. I have been thinking about doing it all over again for a while now. Mandarin should be an interesting challenge.
- VRay 6y ago
  yeah, I think you're right Little kids are studying hard in a total immersion environment for 12+ hours a day, with no other language to fall back to I think an adult who puts the same incredible amount of effort into it can learn another language and get to a native level
- emj 6y ago
  > [what's the] benefit of investing that time. Please continue studying the language, it is frustrating hearing non-native speakers say this. Your bad grammar or foreign mind will always hinder how you can interact with the community you are in. English is pretty strange in this way, I feel the cultural part is so estranged from the language, the width of the english speaking community is just too vast. You can get by with much less english than in other languages IMHO. Malay is my challange, going pretty well.

by bryan0 6y ago

aeyes 6y ago

Social changes probably, you just don't have the time. At 30 I took a year off, went to school to learn a new language which I never had any contact with. After one year I started to work in tech again only communicating using the language I started learning a year ago. After 2-3 years I had no communication issues at all anymore, working with dozens of people. The article focuses on native grammar skill and that is a problem I have. Every language has grammar (and vocabulary) which is rarely used. I struggle with some of the rarely used but more advanced grammar. I know that I could master it if I studied for 3-6 more months full time but I just don't see the benefit of investing that time. My time is better spent working. I have been thinking about doing it all over again for a while now. Mandarin should be an interesting challenge.

VRay 6y ago
yeah, I think you're right Little kids are studying hard in a total immersion environment for 12+ hours a day, with no other language to fall back to I think an adult who puts the same incredible amount of effort into it can learn another language and get to a native level
emj 6y ago
> [what's the] benefit of investing that time. Please continue studying the language, it is frustrating hearing non-native speakers say this. Your bad grammar or foreign mind will always hinder how you can interact with the community you are in. English is pretty strange in this way, I feel the cultural part is so estranged from the language, the width of the english speaking community is just too vast. You can get by with much less english than in other languages IMHO. Malay is my challange, going pretty well.