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Charles, Wasn't offended. <smile> You just reminded me of several articles written on learning a second language, and thought that it was interesting. Linda Forrest's Mom Charles T. Meyer wrote: > > Linda, > > You may well be right and in any case because someone has passed the > critical period it doesn't mean that they cannot learn something, they > just may need to learn it in a different way. I disagree with the > article that was published. That does not mean that I take the position > that it is not possible to learn once the critical period is passed. A > lot of adults learn new languages. > > Charlie > > Linda Carlton wrote: > > > > Charles, > > There may be a specific reason for the difficulty of acquiring a second > > language in someone who already has established a native language, as > > opposed to recovery of a nonexistent ability to speak. Noted in the > > article below. At least, I am hoping so. I have seen my son go through > > the early stages of speech, several times, only to completely regress, > > due to some aspect of the autism. Linda Forrest's Mom > > > > Title > > Brain processing of native and foreign languages. > > Author > > Perani D; Dehaene S; Grassi F; Cohen L; Cappa SF; Dupoux E; Fazio > > F; Mehler J > > Address > > INB-CNR, Universities of Milan, Italy. > > Source > > Neuroreport, 7(15-17):2439-44 1996 Nov 4 > > Abstract > > We used positron emission tomography to study brain activity in > > adults while they were listening to stories in their native > > language, in a second language acquired after the age of seven, and > > in a third unknown language. Several areas, similar > > to those previously observed in monolinguals, were activated by the > > native but not by the second language. Both the > > second and the unknown language yielded distinct left-hemispheric > > activations in areas specialized for phonological > > processing, which were not engaged by a backward speech control > > task. These results indicate that some brain areas > > are shaped by early exposure to the maternal language, and are not > > necessarily activated by the processing of a second > > language to which they have been exposed for a limited time later > > in life. > > Language > > Eng > > Unique Identifier > > 97135862 > > > > MESH Headings > > Adult; Brain (*PH); Human; Language (*); Male; Multilingualism; > > Neural Pathways (*PH); Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; > > Tomography, Emission-Computed > > > > Publication Type > > JOURNAL ARTICLE > > ISSN > > 0959-4965 > > Country of Publication > > ENGLAND > > > > Charles T. Meyer wrote: > > > > > > Janet and Linda and LIST, > > > > > > I think this researcher is stating an opinion- his compilation of the > > > data which is very much at odds with most other neuroscientists. He may > > > be right but intuitively I disagree. If one looks at how children learn > > > foreign languages, Before about 8-9 years old most children can if > > > immersed in a new language can pick it up rapidly and eventually speak > > > it without an accent. After about 8-9 they still can learn the language > > > but maintain a trace of the accent of the mother tongue. By the time a > > > child reaches their mid teens they usually have a substantial accent. I > > > think there is a lot of evidence in many areas of development of this > > > phenomenon. > > > > > > This does not mean that it is worthless to teach someone after the > > > critical period is over, it is just more difficult. How many people do > > > each of us know who came to this country as adults and speak with an > > > accent. They communicate well and it was worth them learning English > > > but it was more difficult for them and the "finished product" is > > > lacking something in spite of it being perfectly acceptable. Also note > > > that there are exceptions- adults that learn a new language flawlessly. > > > > > > As was noted in the article the human brain is quite "plastic ". But I > > > think it follows a timetable which can vary from individual to > > > individual. > > > Linda Carlton wrote: > > > > > > > > Thanks Janet! Hope that you don't mind, but I sent this to some > > > > parents that needed to read this today. I know that I needed to > > > > read it.<smile> Linda Forrest's Mom > > > > > > > > janet paterson wrote: > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > Children Do Not Have Learning "Window" > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > > NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Some brain research may mislead parents into thinking > > > > > they have only a narrow window of opportunity to stimulate an appreciation > > > > > of language, math or music in their child, according to a Missouri researcher. > > > > > > > > > > However, the evidence to support these contentions are weak at best, > > > > > according to Dr. John Bruer, president of the McDonnell Foundation, a St. > > > > > Louis-based program that awards grants for biomedical and educational > > > > > research. > > > > > > > > > > "The claim that children are capable of learning more at a very early age, > > > > > when they have excess synapses and peak brain activity is one of the most > > > > > common ones made in neuroscience and education literature," reported Bruer > > > > > in a paper scheduled to be published in the journal Educational Researcher. > > > > > > > > > > "Other articles urge that children begin the study of languages, advanced > > > > > mathematics, logic and music as early as possible, possibly as early as age > > > > > 3 or 4," he wrote. > > > > > > > > > > So why the rush? Well studies -- mainly conducted in monkeys -- show that > > > > > at birth, infants have fewer synapses -- connections between neurons -- per > > > > > unit of brain tissue than adults. > > > > > > > > > > However, the infant brain soon begins to form large numbers of such > > > > > synapses, which connect brain cells into circuits, in a process known as > > > > > synaptogenesis. > > > > > > > > > > At this point, there is an elimination process, where synapses are "pruned" > > > > > over a number of years and the number of synapses falls to the adult level, > > > > > usually around the age of sexual maturity for most species, Bruer notes. > > > > > > > > > > This finding has led some to claim there is a "critical period" of learning > > > > > from birth to age 3. > > > > > > > > > > However, this theory assumes that the human brain develops in much the same > > > > > ways as the brain of rhesus monkeys, according to Bruer. > > > > > > > > > > "Unlike the monkey, where synaptogenesis appears to occur simultaneously > > > > > across all regions of the brain, the limited human data suggest that > > > > > changes in synaptic density in our species may vary among brain areas," he > > > > > wrote. > > > > > > > > > > Instead, research suggests that the human mind is more "plastic" than > > > > > previously thought, able to adapt and change throughout a life-span. > > > > > > > > > > "Stories stressing that children's experiences during their early years of > > > > > life will ultimately determine their scholastic ability, their future > > > > > career paths, and their ability to form loving relationships have little > > > > > basis in neuroscience," Bruer wrote. > > > > > > > > > > 1997, Reuters Health eLine > > > > > <http://www.medscape.com/reuters/mon/t110710f.html> > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > > janet [log in to unmask] > > > > > > -- > > > > > > CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D. > > > Middleton, WI > > > [log in to unmask] > > -- > > CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D. > Middleton, WI > [log in to unmask]