Picking up a second language and being able to speak as proficiently as native speakers, is a difficult task (Tran, 2009). Trying to understand why grownups have a difficult time picking up a new language, among other reasons, has led to studies in language acquisition. Children make the best language learners, a factor attributed by many pundits to the critical period hypothesis (CPH), while others identify it as the sensitive period (Tran, 2009). According to this theory, there is a specific timeframe within which a child has optimal capacity to learn a language/s (Finn, 2010). However, there are those who contest the evidence provided for these theories, arguing that humans are behaviorist and can learn and unlearn behaviors at any given time (Tran, 2009). Using the case study of Genie Wiley, this research paper will indicate that language development best occurs at a younger age, but it can be done at any age as long as there is interest.
In the Genie Wiley case study, Genie is a thirteen year old girl who has been isolated from all human interactions most of her life. Even her parents, who are responsible for this isolation, rarely interact with her. When she is discovered by the authorities, she not only has the stature of a six year old girl and is in diapers, but also, she is totally incapable of human communication. From her case study, and even as per the scholars who worked with Genie, language development occurs best when the person is much younger, which scientists have termed as the critical/sensitive periods (Tran, 2009: Finn, 2010). From the scientific view, and especially with documented science, there is no specific point for the starting or ending of the critical/sensitive stage (critical stage considered more time constricted than sensitive stage ). In many studies carried out nonetheless, this stage runs through from birth to about the age of puberty (Tran, 2009).
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However, tests have also shown that adults still have the skills required to develop a new language when they need it, a factor that has challenged this sensitive/critical theory (Trans, 2009). The behavioral approach seems to be the best theory to explain language development. This theory postulates that all behavior is learned; Genie’s condition when she was found is indicative of the lack of social interactions that would have assisted her in learning to speak and handle herself in social interactions. Chomsky’s language acquisition device (LAD) theory does hold some truth as well from the case study, since Genie is able to learn language at her age, and at quite a fast pace initially as well.
Still, there is a physical aspect to language development in the case of Genie, whereby she is unable to learn beyond a certain point due to her advanced age. Although her phonology is good, her syntax and semantics are not perfected. This illustrates some truth in the sensitive/critical stages, which according to Finn (2010), has something to do with neural sensory mechanisms in the human brain that are most active at a young age, but that past a certain age have difficulty in growing or activating. Thus, by this argument, Genie was past her sensitive/critical age where her neural sensory transmitters were most active in picking up language, thus her difficulty in learning language throughout her life.
The case study evokes many thoughts and feelings. Ethically, the actions of Genie’s parents are tantamount to murder, since they take away their girl’s life through her isolation at a young age. It also demonstrates the importance of love and nurturing, and overall social interaction in human life.
This case study teaches a lot about language development. Some key points include the existence of a critical phase, but rather than just being a subject in the social sciences, supporters of these theories might get some answers from the natural sciences as well by looking at language and brain development. Additionally, behavior is mostly learned, and can be unlearned, with individual will being the biggest determinant of success in any undertaking, including learning a second language.
References
Finn, A. S. (2010). The sensitive period for language acquisition: The role of age related
differences in cognitive and neural function . University of California, Berkeley.
Tran, T. H. (2009). The Critical Period and Second Language Acquisition. Online Submission .
Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED507240
