Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!rutgers!sri-spam!ames!elroy!cit-vax!ucla-cs!das From: das@CS.UCLA.EDU Newsgroups: comp.ai,sci.lang Subject: Re: Language Learning (anecdotes) Message-ID: <9706@shemp.UCLA.EDU> Date: Sat, 5-Dec-87 21:09:27 EST Article-I.D.: shemp.9706 Posted: Sat Dec 5 21:09:27 1987 Date-Received: Thu, 10-Dec-87 23:17:01 EST References: <1966@uwmacc.UUCP> <12400009@iuvax> <1117@uhccux.UUCP> Sender: root@CS.UCLA.EDU Reply-To: das@CS.UCLA.EDU (David Smallberg) Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department Lines: 18 Xref: mnetor comp.ai:1198 sci.lang:1754 In article <2048@uwmacc.UUCP> edwards@unix.macc.wisc.edu (mark edwards) writes: > I say because any child can learn his native language any adult can > learn the childs native language also. My proof is that any adult can > do what ever any child can do. I wouldn't be so sure about that last sentence. Look at "hemis" (people who have had one hemisphere of their brain removed). If this removal occurs before a certain age (around 3 to 5, I think), it appears that the person seems to be more "normal" than someone who's lost a hemisphere at a later age -- that is, those brain functions that are normally performed predominantly by one hemisphere can be done almost as well by the other, if the need arises before a certain age, and not as well if it arises after that age. This isn't precise, but it does illustrate that what the brain can do changes with age, and not always in the direction of increased power. This says nothing about your contention -- just your proof. -- David Smallberg, das@cs.ucla.edu, {sdcrdcf,ucbvax}!ucla-cs!das