Re: Is there an optimal sequence for language acquisition?


Christian Weisgerber wrote:
> <leuwarden@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > to be able to speak a foreign language you have to acquire reflexes,
> > which may depend on your age and very much on your inclination and
> > ability and a little but not much on your IQ.
>
> I think in order to acquire and retain speaking skills, you need
> to be in an environment where the language is actually used.

yes. it is not absolutely necessary, but it is an advantage.

> have with some dismay registered the decay of my spoken English,
> which used to pass as native but foreign for some more naive
> listeners, something I'm ridiculously far away from again now.

that decay is normal and becomes scandalous only when it is allowed to
attack your grammar. I learnt English the hard way; I can make a
mistake and then wake up in the middle of the night realizing the
disaster. when native speakers make mistakes I get panicky.

> Coincidentally, I recently talked to a Frenchman who offered the
> same complaint--he once learned excellent English as an exchange
> student, but after being stuck again in France for 20 years he's
> back to a terrible accent.

it does not often last 20 years. my British accent lasted maybe about a
year, no more. (I did not like the sound oof it, either)
>
> Despite studying French for six or seven years in school, I never
> acquired any conversational skills to speak of since I never spent
> significant time in a French-speaking environment.
>
> (I seem to be somewhat self-depreciative regarding the language
> skills I picked up in school, but once I press the people who report
> having learned so much more to actually use these skills they rapidly
> falter.)

but some do not even want to speak! I never tried really. I wanted to
be able to understand
>
> --
> Christian "naddy" Weisgerber naddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx

.

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