Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Why children learn languages faster than adults. Are band names singular or plural?

Nov 19, 2024

Discover why kids are language-learning prodigies, mastering new tongues effortlessly during their critical developmental period. Adults, on the other hand, face unique challenges with bilingualism and structured learning. Delve into the grammar quirks of band names, comparing usage between American and British English. Learn how singular and plural treatments differ, often depending on cultural context. Enjoy amusing anecdotes about family language variations, and reflect on your own linguistic stories!

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Quick takeaways

Children acquire languages effortlessly through natural exposure during a critical developmental period, unlike adults who face challenges in structured learning.

Understanding the variability in adult language acquisition highlights the importance of motivation, personal experience, and consistent language use for maintaining proficiency.

Deep dives

Language Acquisition in Children

Children acquire language predominantly through natural exposure rather than active learning, which sets them apart from adults who often study languages formally. Linguists prefer the term 'acquire' to describe how babies speak their first language effortlessly, using specialized brain areas to do so. This process demonstrates a critical period of language development, typically ending in adolescence, which significantly impacts the ability to absorb languages intuitively. Despite common corrective practices, studies have shown that undirected language exposure allows children to achieve fluency, regardless of parental corrections.

Intro

2min

The Distinct Processes of Language Acquisition in Children and Adults

8min

Adult vs. Child Language Learning

8min

Grammatical Nuances of Band and Team Names in English

2min

Exploring Language Variations and Family Language Stories

4min

1032. First, we explore why children pick up languages faster than adults. You’ll learn about the critical period when young brains are best at learning, why kids often learn two languages at once, and what makes it harder for adults. Then, we tackle the grammar rules for using singular and plural verbs with band names and team names, comparing American and British usage.

The "language learning" segment is by Syelle Graves, who has a PhD in linguistics and is the assistant director of ILETC (the Institute for Language Education in Transcultural Context) at the CUNY Graduate Center. Her research was recently published in the Journal of Pragmatics and American Speech. You can find her at www.syellegraves.com.

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