第二语言习得的年龄因素影响_英语论文

The Effects of Age on Second Language Acquisition

摘要

根据研究，目前世界上的已知语言大约一共有5651种。由于世界经济文化的交融与发展，越来越多的人为求提升自我，学习第二语言。自从20世纪60年代以来，越来越多的学者开始关注二语习得。在1959年，Penfield and Roberts提出关键期假说, 即语言学习具有明确有限制的时期, 而在这一时期后学习者学习语言就很困难。这一观点被被普遍认同，因此越来越多的家长很早就给孩子提供接触第二语言的机会。

有许多因素可以影响二语习得，其中影响第二语言习得效果的重要因素之一就是年龄。由于二语习得中年龄因素的研究结果不一致，产生了一些相互矛盾的结论。有些学者认为儿童是最佳的二语习得者，因为儿童在移居国外后比其父母学习的更快更容易，而成年人尽管很努力地学习，结果都不尽如人意；还有学者认为成年人除了在发音方面不如儿童外应该是最佳的二语习得者。

无论最后各学者的研究结果是否一致，在不同年龄段学习第二外语显然是存在差距的。所以首先我们应该找出不同年龄段的异同之处，并确定产生的原因。最后找出适当的方法使学习更加容易和轻松。

关键词：  第二语言习得  年龄因素  关键期假说    

Abstract

According to the research, currently there are 5,651 known languages in the world. With the development of the world economy and culture, more and more people try to improve themselves learn a second language. Since 1960s, second foreign language study has gain more and more attention. The Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH), which is very famous, proves a limited and specific period for language acquisition, it is to say that language learning has the limited period, after which the period, the learners will find it hard to learn a language. This belief is so popular that more and more parents let their children learn English earlier and earlier.

There are many factors can influence the second language acquisition, among which age is one of them. Due to the different results of age factors in second language acquisition, the researchers have some contradictory conclusions. Some of them believe that children are the best, because they learn faster and more easily than their parents after emigrating, but adults, although they study very hard, the results are not satisfactory. Other scholars believe that adults should be the best learners of second language acquisition except the pronunciation.

Whether the scholars have the same conclusion or not，there is a gap in different age groups. So we should find out the similarities and differences between different age groups firstly, and then determine the reasons. At last, find the best age to learn a second language and find out a proper solution to make learning easier and more relaxed. 

Key words:  second language acquisition； age factor ;  Critical Period Hypothesis；                 

Contents

Introduction  1

1.Background 2

2. Age Effects on the Different Aspects3

   2.1 Age Effects on the Rate of Second Language Learning 3

   2.2 Age Effects on Learners’ Ultimate Achievement  3

   2.3 Age Effects on the Process of Second Language Acquisition 6

3. Explanation for the Effects of Age on Second Language Acquisition  7

   3.1 Social-psychological Explanation 7

   3.2 Cognitive Explanation  8

   3.3 Neurological Explanation 9

   3.4 Different Input 9

4 Conclusion  9

References 11