Xref: utzoo comp.ai:1140 sci.lang:1666
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utai!murrayw
From: murrayw@utai.UUCP (Murray Watt)
Newsgroups: comp.ai,sci.lang
Subject: Re: Language Learning (anecdotes)
Message-ID: <4181@utai.UUCP>
Date: 9 Dec 87 14:40:04 GMT
References: <1966@uwmacc.UUCP> <12400009@iuvax> <1117@uhccux.UUCP> <2048@uwmacc.UUCP>
Reply-To: murrayw@ai.UUCP (Murray Watt)
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 37
Summary: 

In article <2048@uwmacc.UUCP> edwards@unix.macc.wisc.edu (mark edwards) writes:
>In article <2999@bcsaic.UUCP> rwojcik@bcsaic.UUCP (Rick Wojcik) writes:
>:In article <2360@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> paul@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Paul W. Placeway) writes:
>
>: The fact remains that no
>:amount of practice or immersian can make an adult the equal of a child.
>
> What fact? It seems to me what you are saying is that the observed
> evidence shows that no adult can lose their native accent. Which is
> like saying "That man listens only to jazz because that is all I hear
> him listening to".
>
  My father has taken many French courses and has taken three four
  month complete emersion courses in my native provice of Quebec.
  He has worked hard and knows more French than I, but he still sounds
  more like an Anglo than I. I am not that he cannot lose his accent,
  just that it is difficult.     
  
> Just because there is no observed evidence does not prove your theory.
   
  Theories that predict the observed evidence are better than those that
  are inconsistent with the evidence!

> 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
                                            ^^^^^
  Is this a tableau proof or modus ponens?

> do what ever any child can do.
     ^^^^^^^^^             
  How about climbing through small holes in fences?

  Murray Watt

  Are we getting emotional statements on the net from people 
  who cannot come to terms with their loss of youth?