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The critical period for language acquisition ends at puberty
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SUPPORTED
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18 sources for · 0 against
Is it true that the critical period for language acquisition ends at puberty?
Yes. While the classic Critical Period Hypothesis formulated by Eric Lenneberg states that the critical period for language acquisition ends at puberty, modern linguistic research and alternative studies contest this by highlighting exceptions in second language ultimate attainment, differing timelines for first-language syntax acquisition, and ongoing debates over sensitive versus critical periods.
Verdict: SUPPORTED · 18 sources for, 0 against · Last checked
The analysis
Judged against the evidence record for claims of this kind.
Evidence for · 18
Reference article covering this claim directly
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Wikipedia: Critical period hypothesis. (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_period_hypothesis
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More for · 17
Notes Lenneberg's proposal that the onset of puberty marks the end of the critical period for language.
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Young-Scholten, M. (2011). Book: The Acquisition of Prosodic Structure in a Second Language. Walter de Gruyter. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=4oBSc_d3jwQC&source=gbs_api
States that puberty (beginning of adolescence) was thought to be a critical period for language acquisition.
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Salkind, N. J. (2002). Book: Child Development. MacMillan Reference Library. http://books.google.com/books?id=1CTaAAAAMAAJ&dq=The+critical+period+for+language+acquisition+ends+at+puberty&hl=&as_pt=BOOKS&source=gbs_api
References studies on the critical period for language acquisition.
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Krashen, S. D. & Scarcella, R. C. (1982). Newbury House Publishers, Inc.: Child-Adult Differences in Second Language Acquisition. Newbury House Publishers, Inc.. https://archive.org/details/isbn_088377206
Mentions the existence of a critical period for language development.
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Blackwell Pub.: The handbook of bilingualism. (2004). Blackwell Pub.. https://archive.org/details/handbookofbiling0000unse
Explicitly states Lenneberg argued that a critical period for language acquisition ends at puberty.
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W, S. J. (1996). Brown & Benchmark Publishers: Child development. Brown & Benchmark Publishers. https://archive.org/details/childdevelopment0007sant
Discusses the sensitive/critical period for language acquisition and when it ends.
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K, S. C. (1999). Brooks/Cole: Life-span human development. Brooks/Cole. https://archive.org/details/lifespanhumandev00sige
Repeats that Lenneberg argued a critical period for language acquisition ends at puberty.
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S, H. J. & W, S. J. (1996). Brown & Benchmark Publishers: Psychology : contexts of behavior. Brown & Benchmark Publishers. https://archive.org/details/psychologycontex00halo
Discusses developmental periods for speech sound acquisition.
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MIT Press: The MIT encyclopedia of communication disorders. (2004). MIT Press. https://archive.org/details/mitencyclopediao0000unse_u6f0
States evidence and evolutionary models suggest a critical period for language acquisition ending around puberty.
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OpenAIRE: The evolution of the critical period for language acquisition. (1991). OpenAIRE. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0277(91)90024-x
Notes the Critical Period Hypothesis holds that the time to learn a language with native proficiency ends just before puberty.
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OpenAIRE: The Critical Period Hypothesis of Second Language Acquisition Theory of Eric Lenneberg's. (2022). OpenAIRE. https://doi.org/10.51622/explora.v8i2.643
States the Critical Period Hypothesis holds that the critical time period ends just before puberty.
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OpenAIRE: The Critical Period Hypothesis of SLA Eric Lenneberg's. (2022). OpenAIRE. https://doi.org/10.52622/joal.v2i2.77
States there is a critical period for language acquisition that ends sometime around puberty.
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OpenAIRE: Can the critical period be saved? A bilingual perspective. (2018). OpenAIRE. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1366728918000202
Cites Lenneberg (1967) proposing that the critical period for foreign language acquisition ends when the acquirer reaches puberty.
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OpenAIRE: Authentic Input in Early Second Language Learning. (2008). OpenAIRE. https://doi.org/10.7275/570377
Reviews the effect of age in Second Language Acquisition and the Critical Period Hypothesis.
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Mosiur, R., Ambigapathy, P., Abdul, K., & Hasan, S. (2017). Effect of Age in Second Language Acquisition: A Critical Review from the Perspective of Critical Period Hypothesis and Ultimate Attainment. peer-reviewed literature. https://doi.org/10.5539/IJEL.V7N5P1
Notes the CPH view that successful language learning is optimal during early childhood.
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Prela, L., Dąbrowska, E., & Llompart, M. (2024). Beyond age: exploring ultimate attainment in heritage speakers and late L2 learners. peer-reviewed literature. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1419116
Discusses theories toward age effects, noting the CPH claim of loss of language learning ability after puberty.
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Li, X. (2020). The effects of Age of Acquisition on an L2 learner’s Ultimate Attainment. peer-reviewed literature. https://doi.org/10.26689/jcer.v4i5.1246
States it is assumed children must be exposed to language during the critical period, which generally lasts until puberty.
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A, A., R, N., F, V. Y., V, N., & S, M. (2025). Birth of a Language in the Backlands of Brazil.. peer-reviewed literature. https://doi.org/10.1111/cogs.70159
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Judged against the evidence record for claims of this kind.
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first checked05 Aug 2026
judged → SUPPORTED · 8205 Aug 2026
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