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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
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Posted: Sat Dec  5 21:09:27 1987
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Reply-To: das@CS.UCLA.EDU (David Smallberg)
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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