The theory that there is a specific period of time during which language acquisition can occur most easily and efficiently, usually before puberty.
Language acquisition: The process of acquiring a language, including understanding and producing language.
Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH): The idea that there is a specific time period during which language acquisition is optimized, usually considered up to puberty.
Brain plasticity: The ability of the brain to change and adapt in response to experiences and learning.
Sensitive periods: Periods of development during which an individual is more sensitive to environmental input and learning, such as during the critical period for language acquisition.
First language acquisition: The process of acquiring one's native language.
Second language acquisition: The process of learning a second language after the critical period for language acquisition has passed.
Language immersion: An approach to language learning that involves being fully immersed in a target language environment.
Language input: The language that is heard by an individual, either through spoken or written communication.
Language output: The language that is produced by an individual, either through speaking or writing.
Language development milestones: The typical milestones in language acquisition, such as first words, sentence structure, and grammar.
Language learning strategies: Techniques and methods for learning a language, such as repetition, immersion, and grammar study.
Bilingualism: The ability to speak two languages fluently.
Language acquisition disorders: Conditions that can impede language acquisition, such as developmental language disorders and hearing impairments.
Critical period research: Studies that investigate the effects of age on language acquisition, brain plasticity, and sensitivity to environmental input.
Experience-dependent plasticity: The idea that the brain's ability to change and adapt is dependent on an individual's experience and environmental input.
Language aptitude: The natural ability or talent for learning a language, which can vary between individuals.
Language teaching methodology: The methods and techniques used by language teachers to promote language acquisition, such as communicative language teaching and task-based language learning.
Language programming: The approach used by educational programs and curricula to develop and promote language acquisition.
Learning a third language: The process of acquiring a third language after already knowing two languages.
Language attrition: The weakening or loss of language proficiency over time, usually due to lack of use.
Biological Critical Period Hypothesis: This theory suggests that there is a specific period in human development when the brain is most receptive to language acquisition. After this period, language acquisition becomes more difficult or impossible.
Neurolinguistic Critical Period Hypothesis: This theory focuses on the role of the brain's lateralization in language acquisition. According to this hypothesis, there is a specific period during which a child's brain is able to develop the necessary neural networks for language acquisition in the right hemisphere of the brain.
Social Critical Period Hypothesis: This theory suggests that social interaction is crucial to language acquisition. According to this hypothesis, children must be exposed to a rich linguistic environment and have opportunities to interact with others in order to develop language proficiency.
Cognitive Critical Period Hypothesis: This theory proposes that the cognitive abilities of a child play a significant role in language acquisition. According to this hypothesis, there is a specific window of opportunity during which a child's cognitive abilities are optimized for language learning.
Linguistic Critical Period Hypothesis: This theory suggests that there is a specific timeframe in which a child's linguistic abilities are most receptive to language acquisition. After this period, language learning becomes more difficult and less effective.
Environmental Critical Period Hypothesis: This theory focuses on the impact of the environment on language acquisition. According to this hypothesis, a child's language acquisition is influenced by the social, cultural, and linguistic aspects of their environment.
Specific Language Impairment (SLI) Critical Period Hypothesis: This theory proposes that children with SLI have impaired language abilities due to a failure to acquire language during the critical period for language acquisition. According to this hypothesis, early intervention is essential for effective treatment of SLI.
Second Language Acquisition Critical Period Hypothesis: This theory suggests that there is a particular period during which individuals are most receptive to learning a second language. After this period, second language learning becomes more difficult and less effective.