A test of the critical period hypothesis for language learning
A critical period for language learning is often defined as a sharp decline in learning outcomes with age. This study examines the relevance of the critical period for English-speaking proficiency among immigrants in the USA. It uses microdata from the 2000 US Census, a model of language acquisition...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Routledge
2008
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33984 |
| _version_ | 1848754097065295872 |
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| author | Chiswick, B. Miller, Paul |
| author_facet | Chiswick, B. Miller, Paul |
| author_sort | Chiswick, B. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | A critical period for language learning is often defined as a sharp decline in learning outcomes with age. This study examines the relevance of the critical period for English-speaking proficiency among immigrants in the USA. It uses microdata from the 2000 US Census, a model of language acquisition and a flexible specification of an estimating equation based on 64 age-at-migration dichotomous variables. Self reported English-speaking proficiency among immigrants declines more or less monotonically with age at migration, and this relationship is not characterised by any sharp decline or discontinuity that might be considered consistent with a ‘critical’ period. The findings are robust across the various immigrant samples, and between the genders. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:34:59Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-33984 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:34:59Z |
| publishDate | 2008 |
| publisher | Routledge |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-339842017-09-13T15:56:35Z A test of the critical period hypothesis for language learning Chiswick, B. Miller, Paul second language learning critical period hypothesis immigrants age A critical period for language learning is often defined as a sharp decline in learning outcomes with age. This study examines the relevance of the critical period for English-speaking proficiency among immigrants in the USA. It uses microdata from the 2000 US Census, a model of language acquisition and a flexible specification of an estimating equation based on 64 age-at-migration dichotomous variables. Self reported English-speaking proficiency among immigrants declines more or less monotonically with age at migration, and this relationship is not characterised by any sharp decline or discontinuity that might be considered consistent with a ‘critical’ period. The findings are robust across the various immigrant samples, and between the genders. 2008 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33984 10.2167/jmmd555.0 Routledge fulltext |
| spellingShingle | second language learning critical period hypothesis immigrants age Chiswick, B. Miller, Paul A test of the critical period hypothesis for language learning |
| title | A test of the critical period hypothesis for language learning |
| title_full | A test of the critical period hypothesis for language learning |
| title_fullStr | A test of the critical period hypothesis for language learning |
| title_full_unstemmed | A test of the critical period hypothesis for language learning |
| title_short | A test of the critical period hypothesis for language learning |
| title_sort | test of the critical period hypothesis for language learning |
| topic | second language learning critical period hypothesis immigrants age |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33984 |