I've learned a lot of interesting things in the Psychology class. What I found the most memorable among the course is the formation of Language. I've always been ambitious in different kinds of language. In order to learn a language well, I have to understand the words. However, It's been very disappointed to found out the Critical Periods in book p295, Proficiency in Second Language Depends on the Age of Exposure. Since I lived in chinese environment for the past 18 years, my ability to learn a new language well has drop to the lowest level, the same as the age 39.
Another interesting things about language is Linguistic Determinism, which explained by the book as the view that all thought is represented verbally and that, as a result, our language defines our thinking. This might explain why sometimes, or most of the time, I don't know what I'm talking about. I just express myself in the way that my thoughts admit, before myself even aware of those words coming out of my mouth.
Language and Human
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This is a really interesting post to me. Most of my life i was raised to speak Italian, but when high school came, that is when I pretty much lost almost all of it as the other person who commented on this posted. I definitely agree with everything that you said in this wall post and especially the part about how there are the Critical Periods to learn a language. I never knew how hard it would be to relearn some language that I had already been taught most of my life. Great post and thanks!
I have always been fascinated by languages too. It is kind of disappointing to think that we can never really fully learn a new language like a native speaker once we've passed a certain stage in our lives, but at least we can still do our bests to continue learning them as adults.
I absolutely love the concept of language. I don't know why but I have always been fascinated with it. I think it is so amazing that we can learn to communicate and share culture with other people from around the world! Learning a new language and feeling comfortable speaking it is such an amazing feeling.. You can really connect with someone on a new level. I believe that practice makes perfect and it all comes with time! Although it is EASIER to learn when you are young i don't think that is absolute!
One thing has always bothered me, the fact that my parents hadn't got me learning a language at an earlier age. I agree that there is a critical point in the developmental process of the brain where learning another language is prime.
I think it is super interesting how children can pick up languages naturally. It is just amazing how that works. My dad speaks Chinese and I am bummed he didn't make me learn it.
I was raised speaking Hungarian, but over my life I've largely forgotten it in favor of English. I've recently been trying to relearn it, but it's been much harder than when I first learned it. At first I was very frustrated, but I now know that this is because I've passed the sensitive period.