SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT: CHILD FIRST AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (L1A & L2A) AND ADULT L2A

Abstract

This paper investigates child Second Language Acquisition (L2A) and its differences and similarities with child First Language Acquisition (L1A) and adult L2A. Research studies related to effects of age on language attainment, particularly, Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH) is explored to investigate the similar or different language acquisition patterns. According to the CPH, the Age at onset of Acquisition (AoA) plays a significant role in determining a learner’s ultimate attainment of a second language. The CPH rests on the assumption that the age-related effects seen in L2 studies are the result of maturational changes in brain structures that are used to learn and/or to process language. On the prevailing view of ultimate attainment in second language acquisition, native competence cannot be achieved by post-puberty learners. There seems to be a correlation between the AoA and the level of attainment in the child L2A. I expect to conclude, in the light of the presented evidence, that child L2A is different from child L1A and adult L2A but at the same time shares a number of patterns.