It feels very encouraging to see a scientific approach towards looking at a common but important question. Such videos are very rare to see.

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.

Age 17, to me this suggests that language learning overlaps with socialization more than education.

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...

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.

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."

until the age of 17 years, says the author.

I like accents in general, it tells me that there was a journey to get to this point in time.

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.....

Great stuff.

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.

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.

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 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?😂

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....

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.

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 ???

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.

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.

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.

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.

kids can learn new things easily because they take baby steps to learn, if adults learn by taking baby steps they would surely learn

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.

The proper title of this video should be “Don’t even think about learning a new language in your 50s”, lol

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.

How about math learning ability, whats the best time for it?

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.

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.

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?

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.)

Thanks for putting this out here!

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.

The crucial word 'Language' is missing from the title as well as the thumbnail.

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.

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.

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.

Why does the ability to acquire vocabulary, syntax, and semantics end earlier than acquiring accent (phonology)?

Small comment on the importance of framing: Would there be anything to gain from postponing starting to learn something?

That piano intro/outro music is a lot louder than the dialogue. Possibly a symptom of over-use of audio compression on the music.

kids are more dependent on others while adults can often do things without asking for help

6:03 - is Pinker sitting "in the chair" or "on the chair"? 😆

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.

Doesn't the number of brain cells diminish rapidly around then? I learnt French at the age of 4, but never mastered the accent.

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.

Thinking about drinking alcohol hhaahhah

*Promosm* 🌹

Damn, from the title I was hoping it would be like in your 50th or something.. 😢 discouraging video

No accounting for how patient adults will be of children? Not gonna account for children starting with progressive vocabulary? Super meh.

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) ;-)