Academic studies have broadened our understanding of how people learn languages. These theories have been brought to life with real case studies and experiments in the psychology and linguistics of languages. Some studies touch on the relation between ageing and language learning or how language is learnt through different exposure mediums, and each one adds a little piece to the puzzle of how it all really works.
Because it is such a deeply rooted and complex concept in and of itself, our relationship with language constantly develops throughout life; as we age, our physical surroundings evolve, and everyday aspects of life change. The process through which children learn languages is so vastly different to a polyglot who takes it upon themselves to add a new language to their portfolio. Or someone moving to a new country is exposed to new languages, dialects and expressions, which are also continuously changing.
Genie’s Case – Insights into Language Acquisition After Early Deprivation
One of the most well-known cases in language learning is the study of Genie, a child who experienced extreme isolation and missed early exposure to language. Researched by Susan Curtiss, the case provided a rare insight into what happens when language input is absent during key developmental years.
Genie was discovered at age 13 with little to no spoken language. Although she could learn vocabulary, her grammar never fully developed. This case supported the idea of a critical period for language acquisition, a window in which the brain is most receptive to learning language.
Exploring Age Effects in Second Language Acquisition
Behzad Ghonsooly’s review of second language learning explores how age affects our ability to acquire new languages. Drawing on the critical period hypothesis, his 2017 paper, A Conceptual Review of Age Effect on L2 Acquisition, examines the idea that younger learners pick up languages more easily, especially in terms of pronunciation and fluency.
However, the research also points out that older learners bring cognitive advantages, such as metalinguistic awareness. The study doesn’t just focus on when we learn but on how different ages bring different strengths. It adds nuance to the ongoing debate about whether there really is a cutoff point for successful L2 learning.
Foreign-Accented Speech – Comprehensibility vs. Accentedness
Foreign accents can vary drastically depending on an individual’s mother tongue, something that Rachel E. Kraut has analysed in her study, Foreign-Accented Speech Perception Ratings: A Multifactorial Case Study. It uncovers the roots of foreign-accented speech, analysing the strength of the foreign accents and how some are more similar to native speech. In contrast, others are worlds apart, quite literally.
Her research shows that comprehensibility and accentedness are not always the same thing. A speaker may have a noticeable accent and still be easy to follow, while another may sound closer to native but be harder to understand. Listener expectations and familiarity play a role. This study highlights the importance of clarity over accent reduction in second-language speech.
The Influence of Bilingualism on Speech Production
Bilingualism does not just change the way we learn new languages or our accents in second languages, but it can also have an impact on our first language. In this fascinating study by Adam Tierney, the minute differences in language are brought to our attention, and how bilingualism influences the way we cross-reference and use both. Details such as timing, pronunciation, and rhythm are all influenced by the interaction and interference of two languages, especially when one of those languages is more dominant in our mind than the other.
Tierney explores how ongoing negotiations between the languages shape bilingual speech and how they merge and interfere with each other rather than being kept separate entities. For some, bilingualism can be a dynamic and fluid mastery of two languages, as they can switch from one to the other seamlessly. However, there may be some obstacles and hindrances that blend aspects of language production and perception.
Accent Rating by Native and Non-Native Listeners
Mirjam Wester’s comparative study explores how different listeners judge accents, revealing how bias and familiarity affect ratings. Native and non-native listeners don’t always agree on what sounds “native” or “correct.” Interestingly, non-native listeners may be more forgiving or focused on intelligibility, while native listeners tend to rely more on social expectations.
The study shows that accent perception is subjective and shaped by personal experience. It raises questions about how fair and consistent accent evaluations really are. The research also delves into accent judgments based on identity, stereotypes and exposure. It also raises our attention on the subjectivity of accent perception and how our personal experiences shape it.