二语习得与年龄因素

摘要

在二语习得中，年龄是至关重要的一个因素。本文旨在提出一些与二语习得相关的重要理论，以及根据这些理论对不同年龄层学习二外的读者提出不同的教学策略。希望可以让他们对二语习得有更多的了解以及能够更好地掌握二外。

关键词：二语习得；年龄；教学策略

Abstract

Age is one of the most vital factors of second language acquisition. First, the article aims to put forward some important theories about second language acquisition and then give different teaching strategies to the people at different age who want to learn a second language. It will make them know more about second language and have a good command of it.

Key words: second language acquisition; age; teaching strategies

Contents

摘要 (1)

1.Second language acquisition and age factor (3)

1.1 Introduction (3)

2.The relevant theories of the second language acquisition (3)

2.1 Critical period hypothesis (3)

3.The current study in the second language acquisition (4)

4.The characteristic of younger children (4)

4.1 From the point of critical period hypothesis (4)

4.1.1The accurate pronunciation (4)

4.1.2The higher level (5)

4.2 From the point of foreign language attrition (5)

5.The characteristic of adult (6)

5.1From the point of cognition (6)

5.2From the point of learning rate (6)

5.3From the point of learning motivation (7)

6.The conclusion and suggestion (7)

Bibliography (8)

1.Second language acquisition and age factor

1.1 Introduction

There are many factors that have an influence in the second language acquisition, while the age is regarded as the most important factor of influencing the effect in different individual. The researches of the second language acquisition are different. Even there exist some contradictory results. Some scholars consider that the children are the best ones who can learn second language well. Because when the children immigrate to abroad, they can learn and accept the second language fast and easier, while the adults can’t reach the stage through hard working. Other scholars hold the belief that the adults are best learners except in pronunciation.

Whether there is a consistent conclusion, it is accepted widely that the difference exists in different age. So what we should do is to find the identical and different part of different age and then choose the best age. It will help us confirm the reason and discover the appropriate approach to learn the second language easier, which will boost the process.

2.The relevant theories of the second language acquisition 2.1 Critical period hypothesis

Critical period hypothesis, that is to say there is a fixed period when learners can learn the second language fastest and best. After this period, the learning process becomes difficult and hard. But the optimum age put forward earlier is within 10. During this period, the brain can be easily shaped and changed and the ability will disappear gradually.

3.The current study in the second language acquisition

There are many theorists and applied linguists do much research on the relation between age and second language acquisition, but there are still controversies about the relation, especially the critical period hypothesis. In 1960s, Lennebery came up with the critical period hypothesis. He attributed the difference in learning second language to neurophysiological phenomenon, because he thought it was difficult to change the pronunciation at the age of 12. On the other hand, Krashen believed that the older children can learn faster than the younger children under the same condition. He also pointed out that the adult could make progress faster than children, in that they have much ability and knowledge. Stern made a conclusion earlier that critical period hypothesis not exists. In his mind, different ages have their own advantages and disadvantages. The children can make a fast and direct reaction in the conversation, while the adults are able to learn through the knowledge and method learning from the class. That is to say, every can learn the second language and everyone has the ability to learn the second language well.

4.The characteristic of younger children

4.1 From the point of critical period hypothesis

It is a hot topic whether the age plays an important role in second language acquisition. Even now there are still controversies, most people hold the belief that the younger, the better to learn a second language. The benefits are listed below.

4.1.1The accurate pronunciation

The age is relevant to the correctness of pronunciation. Usually, it is the children’s voice that is closed to the mother tongue in second language acquisition.

Ann Fathman in 1975 and Spolsky in 1989 came to the conclusion through research and experiment that as for the phonology, the younger the better. In1990, Long found that before 6, the children have a good command of the pure

pronunciation. From 6 to 12, some children speak with their mother tongue and some don’t. After 12, the learners always speak with their mother tongue. Oyama once did a relevant research on 60 immigrants from Italy to America. Only in pronunciation correctness, the younger learnt better than the older. In other word, the age, rather than the living time in a target circumstance, holds a decisive position in the pronunciation of the second language.

4.1.2The higher level

There is a basic difference between second language acquisition and first language acquisition. It is common that almost every child can learn mother tongue well, while only a few learner can learn the second language as well as the mother tongue. What causes the difference? The age may firstly pop into our minds. Because the children learn their mother tongues when they are born, while the person learns the second language may be in adult. However, the relation between age and second language acquisition is not very simple. It is generally considered that the adults learn the second language by cognitive mechanism, and the children learn it by language acquisition device.

4.2 From the point of foreign language attrition

The foreign language attrition means certain language or part of the language deteriorates and deprived.

The impact of age on the foreign language attrition concentrates on two aspects. The one aspect is the contrast between children and adults and the other aspect is the contrast between children. Hansen put forward that the foreign language attrition is different among the children and adults. She ever made a deep investigation on two American children. These two children has lived in India and learned the Indian. Every time when they were in India, they could speak the Indian as frequently as the residents while their mothers couldn’t make it. But after 20 years, it is found that the children couldn’t understand the Indian when they have lived in America for so long. It is strange that their mothers could understand the Indian. The final conclusion was made by many researchers that as for the speed of foreign language attrition, children

could forget the second language faster. That is to say, it is not right to say learning the second language at a very early age is the best.

5.The characteristic of adult

5.1From the point of cognition

Language and cognition are the prominent characteristics compared with animals. Some people hold the idea that children learn the second language by language acquisition mechanism and the adults study it by cognitive mechanism. As far as Chomsky concerned, children acquire the language on the basic of abstract grammar. They have contact with the outer circumstance and are input some parameters. So children learn the language unconsciously. The adults learn the language when their brain has been developed. So the second language learners can’t take advantage of the languag e acquisition mechanism to encode. In fact, the older, the more cognitive.

5.2From the point of learning rate

As for the learning rate, it shows that the older learners study more efficiently than the younger learners. However, someone point out the speed advantage is temporary. Krashen and Scarcella come up with the suggestion that people should tell the difference between short-term research and long-term research. From the short-term, the older learners can study fast. In contrary, the younger learners can learn better.

Snow and Hoefnagel-hole thought that the youngsters can learn fastest. When they probed into the second language acquisition of Dutch, they found that although the adults behave better than the children, the youngsters is the best. Afterwards, Ellis analyzed it from the aspect of cognition. The youngsters not only can apply for the language acquisition mechanism, but also they can learn consciously which can be as a complement. At the same time, they pointed out the pronunciation is the exception.

We can see from above that the youngster is the best period to learn the second language. For adults, they should learn the language as soon as possible because the proficiency of learning will decrease as the increasing of age.

5.3From the point of learning motivation

The motivation is the strength and reason to encourage people to take action. It includes personal intention, wish, impulsion and ambition.

The learning motivation is regarded as a critical element of second language acquisition. Gardner distinguished two different kinds of motivation. The first one is the integrative motivation and the second is the instrumental motivation. The learners who have the integrative motivation are more likely to like and appreciate the language and related culture. And they hope to be a member in the target society and to be accepted by the members. The learners with instrumental motivation consider the target language as a instrument. And they wish it can bring wealth and reputation. It is clear that the adults may have both motivations while the children may don’t take them into consideration.

To sum, the adults should take appropriate measures to incent themselves to study. On the one hand, they can take advantage of the curiosity and the desire for success; On the other hand, they can make full use of the outer circumstance to encourage them. In this way, they can broaden horizon and enrich life.

6.The conclusion and suggestion

The best onset age to study the second language is between 9 and 10.During this period, the learners can apply language acquisition mechanism to study as well as the cognition mechanism. In this way, they will acquire the pure pronunciation and learn the second language faster and better. However, provided the learner is old, he shouldn’t give up because he is able to utilize the motivation to boost study.

In general, the age may influence the second language acquisition. But if the learner has the enough determination and perseverance, he will make it.

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