The Best Time To Learn Something - And It's Not When You Think
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 мар 2024
- Today, we're diving deep into the realm of language acquisition and exploring the question: What is the ideal age for you to learn a language?
We examine some cutting-edge scientific research (including a language quiz that went viral!) that sheds light on the critical window for language learning. What is the difference between a child and an adult learning a language, or an immigrant and a native speaker?
Whether you're a language enthusiast, educator, or simply curious about the mysteries of the mind, you won't want to miss this part of my series on language and the human mind.
#pinker #cognitivepsychology #podcast #psychology #science #stevenpinker #motivation #success #mindset #sound #mind #brain #learning #imagination #languagedevelopment #language
Follow me:
Twitter:
Facebook: web. Stevenpinker...
Website: stevenpinker.org/
![Jordan Adetunji - KEHLANI REMIX (feat. Kehlani) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EeJ8n5PxFGE/mqdefault.jpg)
This is so interesting. I started learning Spanish about eight months ago and have found it much easier as an adult in my sixties than when I took one semester of Spanish in college. I think that I am a better learner now and I definitely think the new methods of language learning are much better. There is definitely hope for language acquisition at any age.
Estoy de acuerdo, aprendi Español de adulto tambien.
until the age of 17 years, says the author.
Age 17, to me this suggests that language learning overlaps with socialization more than education.
So the more you are surrounded by the language the more your brain is forced to learn it, almost by survival instinct.
You discovered something that took me until my early 40s to figure out.
I was a Japanese Studies major in college, lived there for a while, past the prime age, but still got really good at the language. I chocked it all up to studying a whole bunch when I was there, but every time I tried to do it again with another skill, it never worked as well, with me usually burning out in a few months.
It took me falling into the competitive pinball scene, which led me back to practicing for hours on end without losing interest, for me to realize what I was missing wasn't the studying a lot, but the socialization that provided the _drive_ for me to study a lot without burning out. I think that, when you're younger, you have more time, so caring in the moment is enough to drive you forward. As an adult, if you want to catch up, you need to put in the extra time, so extra studying is necessary, but it's impossible to maintain that extra effort without a strong social need.
@@FirstLast-tj4nl That's why the best way to learn a language is being interrogated by the police. That's a _real_ "you gone' learn today" situation.
It feels very encouraging to see a scientific approach towards looking at a common but important question. Such videos are very rare to see.
I found this discussion of the critical period quite fascinating.
As someone who's been learning Japanese for around 5 years (2 of which have been spent fully immersed in the language both at home and at work), I've found that while I can pass for a native on short phone conversations or brief exchanges, there's a certain intuition about correctness in the language that my brain lacks, presumably because I started learning at 21. The qualitative difference between being able to "feel" what's right in a language vs only "knowing" it, is what I feel sets me apart from a native speaker.
That said, the fact that non-native speakers continue to make improvements up to 30 years after beginning their language learning journeys does give me home that that gap, however narrow it may be, will continue to narrow further in the coming decades.
Very true, as an adult you can get to know the ins and outs of another language, but this knowledge is not as automatically applied as that of your own native language. This is exposed in particular when you get excited, angry, or alarmed, probably because you give less attention to these "details" and there is no automatism taking care of them.
I like accents in general, it tells me that there was a journey to get to this point in time.
The issues i found in languages learning is in the use of them, specially when you are not living in a country or a community that uses the language/s you have learned.
Language learning has been an integral part of my life, and I have picked several languages over the years. By now I have been studying Russian for 4 years. This year I am 18, and they say there's no way you master a language when you learn in after 12. Well, I'm still going strong in this dept until today...
As a native Russian, never understood why someone would choose this language, especially at this time 🤔
I am romanian working and living in Italy. I speak Italian, English and now at 65 I am learning French..I love language learning..I don't know though why...
Как твои успехи в изучении?
It's extremely easy for an European to learn European languages. It's like learning a dialect if compared to an English learns Chinese (or a Chinese learns English).
"until today..." means the exact opposite of what you foreigners think it does.
Who knew Pinker would lean into clickbait this hard?
Language learning is not comparable to all learning, since our brains are wired for language in a way dissimilar to just about all other kinds of learning....
Exactly!
I lived with a French woman and we decided to move to Montreal in 1993 when I was 31 years old. I enrolled in French courses and by the fourth month I was already understanding the news and tv shows, after 9 months I was fluent. I still practice with my daughter and listen to France tv with no loss of vocabulary. I can read totally BUT writing is another story. BTW French is my third language.....
What's your first language? Is it Spanish, Italian, Portuguese or Italian?
@@Yashodhan1917 Spanish/English/French in that order
@@vladbox1That explains it, French and Spanish are rather closely related.
Why don't you try to learn Chinese, Hindi or Japanese? :) If you succeed to learn one of these languages, you will see that all the languages you have learnt can just be considered dialect of your native language.
@@pivpo **this * 100. It often feels so horribly dishonest when people don't tell you the circumstance they "learned" under. I studied Chinese and Japanese for nearly a decade before I tried Spanish. All the while I thought I was a moron with a non-functioning brain. Then suddenly I found myself watching documentaries in Spanish just so many months after starting . . . something most people still aren't doing in their 7th+ year of an Asian language. In fact, many expats living in Asia who DO go to the trouble of learning the language freeze their level after about the 3rd year when the ROI per effort curve hits a wall. So they are in their 10th or 20th year and still don't watch anything on TV for enjoyment, though they engage in one-on-one conversation with their spouse or local friends. Unthinkable in Spanish or French for an English native to put in 1500-2000 hours of study and then remain frozen at a certain basic communicative level forever after.
Excellent presentation. I like that you do an experiment, and then dispassionately analyse the results. Some start with a hypothesis, and then shape everything to fit.
I think my daughter came up with this, but maybe she got it from someone else: "What is a foreign accent? It is a sign of bravery."
As a multilingual person who teaches world languages, I tell my students that there is no correlation between someone’s “foreign accent” and intelligence. Yet, many people are quick to make judgments on a person’s intelligence level based on their accent.
It just got one more
@@EldaIzzoThere's a reason behind that . . . because people unconsciously transfer their skill/knowledge in one field to another and they find success. E.g., often a soccer player plays other field games well too.
So, now they have learnt that language proficiency (including pronunciation and use of words) in their native language correlate to intelligence. And this understanding is unconsciously transferred to another language, e.g., English.
Don't blame the students. They are not even conscious they do this judgement.
I've always admired bilingual and multilingual people. I'm studying French at age 64...
Spending time in a foreign country where the odds were extremely low that I’d meet someone who spoke English was one of the most eye opening experiences for me. I look at people who can’t speak English completely differently. I knew I wasn’t stupid I just couldn’t communicate. I treat foreign speakers with much more empathy now.
El contexto también importa, las formas de aprendizaje. Mencionas que hay ventanas críticas, periodos de latencia, pero también hay una plasticidad motivada por el contexto. Los dos momentos críticos de plasticidad ya no son tan así. Gracias por siempre exponer temas tan interesantes.
Great stuff.
There are always variations. My family moved to an english speaking country. The youngest was 12 the eldest 22. All learned the language almost equally quickly, but interestingly, the 12 year old retained some of their mother tongue's accent, and so did the eldest, the 21 yo learned at a rapid rate and completely lost any accent within two years.
I'm bilingual (Danish/English) - And danish is probably one of the most difficult languages, to learn to speak (Not read - that should be quite easy, for English speakers ) The rule of thumb, is that you usually never become perfect fluent, if you start after 10 - and I (THINK, don't know) that it is the vowels - we probably have more that any other language (3 ekstra letters Æ Ø and Å (æ ø and å)) But as in English the letter A and many other vowels can be pronounced different in different combinations and words.
Yet English speakers have a great advantage, as danish grammar, is very similar to English - and that's actually quite odd, as both languages originally, had a much more German like grammar. I use to think that the English change evolved earlier than danish, because I could understand most of Shakespeare's original texts - And I assumed, I would have a great difficulty in understanding a danish text from the year 1600, but as I now found out, I can understand most of the text from about 1560 - so the change may have taken place, at the same time as in England -
But how could this happen, even it we assume, that there would have been a great trade over the North Sea - we are not looking, at a migration as when the Anglo-Saxons and Jutes came, or like the Viking later presences ! Is this just how languages change over time ?, and why did German not change, in the same way ???
Cleft palate causes a nasal twang or hypernasal speech when speaking. Repair of cleft palate is usually done when the patient is young. When repair is done early (before teen age) there’s a good chance that the child will be able to speak without the nasal twang. Studies have shown that repair of cleft palate after teen age (as an adult) does not significantly reduce the nasal twang. In medicine, it was always thought that this was suggestive that language (pronunciation in particular) is connected to brain development.
I started studying Japanese 3 months ago at 75 years of age. Eventually, I would like to become somewhat fluent… Am I barking up the wrong tree?😂
I'm not an expert on this subject; but I don't think so. It might be harder for you, but I still think it's possible with enough effort.
@@abdulbasith6842 It's perfect though. It'll be tough, so it'd be the perfect exercise to keep dementia at bay.
I definitely do not think you are barking up the wrong tree. It's your commitment that counts.
Dr. Pinker‘s examples make me wonder about our use of prepositions for cars, trains, and airplanes.
My non-native speakers will sometimes say, “I was riding on a car,” or “I flew here in a plane.“
The first one is just as incorrect as the second, but we probably would not correct the person on the second one. This is because we imagine people out on the hood when someone uses the word “on” in relation to a car. So why don’t we imagine that when someone says they were “on” a plane? 😂
Really wonderful stuff. There's really no need for the stock B roll and the filming-from-the-side thing though. Anyone who can't just sit and pay attention doesn't have the price of entry.
Hey Stephen, great video. This is interesting to me. I was "born" bilingual, that is to say that I feel like I just automatically knew two languages by age 6 or 7, the same way a person can know a native language. I don't remember learning either and make no effort in either language. Even my accent for both are native-sounding, because the mouth structure changes for both. However, one thing I've noticed is that people who learn a language between the ages of 8 through teenage years, they can learn a second language (usually English as a second language), but that they don't always have a strong literary connection with the English language (since most parents teach their own kids using books, which tween/teenage kids bypass, so they speak a simplified version of a language) or that the second language has a slight accent with it.
What I'm saying is that I do believe there may be further distinctions between people who are learning language before they reach the age of consciousness (before they can start remembering things or around 6-8 years old) and those who learn during tween-teen years and those who learn language as adults. I would say the tween and teen learners probably just have more time on their hands and less worries (no bills to pay). But the mouth muscles and mind are probably still not as malleable or as nimble as those who learn language as younger people before the age of 6. There definitely is a critical learning period that has to happen during the before-6 age for humans to gain language anyway. As experiments have shown what happens if someone is deprived of language learning and how it's not possible or very difficult to learn language without that critical early year exposure. Like Genie the feral child in the 1960's who couldn't acquire a language after a certain age.
If I were to hypothesize, I would say the increased amount of immune responses, quick healing, and quick growth that we see in people before-6 is probably also able to allow for very rapid learning "brain cells" or perhaps quicker neuronal connections or whatever, than someone who is past the age of 8 and has more normalized body growth and further still than with people who are over 35 who experience a slowdown of the body, because of aging. Just as healing time and regrowth slows down with age, perhaps there is a slight slowdown, although learning is still surprisingly possible at older ages. Thanks.
I started learning English as a child. I think I'm pretty good. Especially with using grammar naturally, without stopping to think about it. I started learning German at 11. I tried to study and to expose myself to the language. I also traveled several times. I've never reached a level beyond B1. I think I'm probably down to A1 or A2 at the moment.
It is absurd that this channel only has 1.79 thousand subscribers. More people need to know about this channel. It’s surprising, because Steven has 844,000 followers on X.
Maybe because he puts controversial articles on twitter
This looks like a fake channel on first glance.
The channel's only a month old. This is fantastic growth for such a new channel with so few videos.
@@soumyadeepkayetSuch as?
Because it takes time for a youtube channel to grow...
Probably individual but I think one mayor difference is how you learn a language. As an example, I learned english at school from age 10. The teacher was not very good. Most swedes are rather good in english and a probable reason is that most television is produced in english speaking countries and we have subtitles in swedish instead of dubbed speach. However, my parents did not allow me to watch a lot of tv. I use english a lot at work. Neither the less my english is bad compared to an average swede. However, at the age of 30 I started to learn spanish and mostly by conversation with local people on the streets in different latinamerican countries, I bought newspaper, looked at tv etc. Though I don't know the gramatics my social spanish is far above my social english. I think there are two key points, when you learn you must dedicate yourself i.e. don't speak other languages while you learn a new and do it by comunication with native speakers. Children play and interact with other children in a way adults not tend todo. Thus they learn better. Also, when you learn at school you might learn "correct" language but often not what people really use. Also, it's when you start learning that you should be really dedicated since when you know the basics you will understand most in a conversation and learn just by listening to others without needing to make a lot of effort.
It's my understanding that Joseph Conrad, author of "Typhoon," didn't start learning English until the age of 21. But unless he had a stellar proofreader, he learned English magnificently.
Thanks for putting this out here!
How about math learning ability, whats the best time for it?
Phonology testing at scale: the participants first record their prononciation and then rate the pronunciation of others as well as a few externally rated reference (mis)pronunciation. The participants that score well can give comptent assessment on the pronunciations of other participants. How "bad-pronouncer" rate other bad-pronouncer is interesting too. Are there bubbles with an alternative consensus on the right pronunciation?
I'm still willing to bet I could learn anything more quickly and completely than a child. Not everyone can learn at the same pace but I am known for being a fast learner. Provided I had been given the same time for a true comparison accounting for working hours etc.
I agree with you. I've always heard that kids have an advantage but I don't see it. When a kid learns a language, they usually don't read and write it very well and certainly don't have an adult level understanding of language - even in their first language. The other factor is that adults don't have anywhere close to the amount of time as a kid because the adult has many many other responsibilities, like working, cleaning, food prep, child care, etc. whereas a kid can immerse themselves completely, nearly 100% of their time. If an immigrant could/had to devote themselves to language learning for every waking hour of the day, I feel certain they would outpace a child.
I agree, After learning French for two years, I spoke much better French than a two year old French child.@@shannonroberts5080
I think that an important issue, perhaps the most important issue, is the number of hours per day spent learning language. Under 15, there is nothing else to do all day besides learning language. When you get older, with school and job responsibilities, earning a living, paying rent, preparing for the future, etc., there is much less time to spend on language acquisition. As you get older, with limited time to devote to pronunciation and other language skills, you focus on "getting the job done" ie. communicating adequately but leaving enough time to devote to economic survival.
Whereas her brother, who was 16 when the family moved from Greece 15 years earlier, had no accent in English, my good friend, who was 19 at the time, still had a Greek accent. (Since I don't speak Greek, I was never able to have a conversation with her Mother.)
All just an anecdote. But interesting.
I have to say, in the whole of English grammar, you found the most convoluted way to phrase that information. Let me rewrite it:
My friend’s family came from Greece 15 years ago when she was 19 and her brother was 16. She still has an accent, he doesn’t and their mom never learned English at all.
@@Hexspa What !!?
I rese...mble that remark!
Yeah, I do that sometimes.
Thanks for the translation.
(Though I knew her 25 years ago.)
I know two brothers that moves here at the same time, from Denmark. One 12 and one 15.
The younger one has no discernible accent. The older one still has a fairly obvious accent.
This controls for much. Though is only one case.
The crucial word 'Language' is missing from the title as well as the thumbnail.
People can even learn foreign languages in the senior (65+) years old. Yes, it takes more effort. Missionaries who spent time in China during their 30s experienced the increasing difficulty in learning a language in their 50s.
Small comment on the importance of framing: Would there be anything to gain from postponing starting to learn something?
Why does the ability to acquire vocabulary, syntax, and semantics end earlier than acquiring accent (phonology)?
The proper title of this video should be “Don’t even think about learning a new language in your 50s”, lol
That piano intro/outro music is a lot louder than the dialogue. Possibly a symptom of over-use of audio compression on the music.
7:57 It wouldn't be puberty shutting down language learning, it would be the ending of puberty - 16-17 for both males and females. The fact that girls start puberty earlier and are better at language could suggest a positive correlation between language and puberty.
kids are more dependent on others while adults can often do things without asking for help
Doesn't the number of brain cells diminish rapidly around then? I learnt French at the age of 4, but never mastered the accent.
Isn't 17 about the peak of fluid intelligence where learning in general peaks?
kids can learn new things easily because they take baby steps to learn, if adults learn by taking baby steps they would surely learn
I was hoping for some hope. But alas, I'm 35, so it seems I'm doomed to speak like an immigrant forever.
Some parents are so dumb, they not only CAN'T teach you anything, but they HURT your learning. UNFORTUNATELLY, you only learn about this when you get older and of course, the damage is already done and too late to do anything about it.
Also dumb children from smart parents are often the more successful people in life.
How is it scientific to suggest children are better at picking up languages than adults when you have 1,000+ environmental variables that are NOT EVEN REMOTELY SIMILAR? I mean, put adults through the exact same daily experience as kids and tell me who wins. In fact, it has already been done by the ALG Thai schools which found adults and children to acquire Thai at the same rate. (I mean it might not be a perfect match but it is the best data we have for sure, and it negates the critical period claim.)
Thinking about drinking alcohol hhaahhah
*Promosm* 🌹
No accounting for how patient adults will be of children? Not gonna account for children starting with progressive vocabulary? Super meh.
Damn, from the title I was hoping it would be like in your 50th or something.. 😢 discouraging video
I guess this video title and thumbnail was misleading... very disappointed
Here's maybe an idea. Typically, when a child starts school, the child knows nothing. Then, they start learning. They want to be 👨🚀👩🚒👮♂️🤴👸. Every year, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and up They learn more and more, increasing their vocabulary. Then puberty comes along. Now, their in high school. The question I have is which influences them more, the frontal lobe or the heart.
Jesus had some interesting words at Matthew 15:18, where he said, "Whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart." He didn't say the brain or any particular part of it. Why? Gen 6:5; deut 6:6; pr 4:23; jer 17:9,10; 31:33;
Acts 16:14. All these scriptures have something to say. Jeremiah 31:33 in particular says, in their heart, I will write my law. Why not the frontal lobe?
One thing I can say I know is when people finish school, their concern is mating and territory, and a lot will do really sh*tty thing to obtain them. Reptiles doing foolish human things because the heart has no training with discipline.
Peace and Ahev
Convincing Anglo-American people (usually White people in particular) that you speak like them in terms of accent or pitch/prosidy is truly meaningless if you can function nonethelessn as a television news anchor in the language, or as a teacher in their children's classrooms, or as a professional lecturer -- the way many language speaking Hindu-Indians (with "accents") in the united States, effortlessly flourish linguistically and (most prominantly, ) economically. Since all dilligent adults can master exact grammar no matter the forieng language or age, this view of americans of languge "learning" equating with perfect accent is... superfluous . (like most western distoritions by their "culture"). (forgive my spelling and punctuation) ;-)
why do you indians speek in such a stilted way? are you trying to sound smarter by using all these big words? i think it comes from a deep insecurity and immaturity