The topic of a critical period for language learning is a hotbed of discussion; There is substantial evidence to support the idea that some elements of language are “easier” (or even fundamental) to learn and master at a younger age, such as syntax and phonology, but debate rages as to whether this is evidence of a critical period for overall language learning and whether the critical period applies to learning a second language (Newport, 2002). The implications of such research and claims are vast: not only for parents of young children, who may want to provide every advantage for their children, but also for young adults and the elderly. Pro Side The idea that language learning is limited by biology is not a new one; Eric Lenneberg introduced the idea and made some then-radical claims in 1967 (Newport, 2002). Since then, numerous studies have been carried out, followed by countless publications, struggling to define and delineate the critical period. EL Newport (2002) discusses many of these research studies, pointing out, for example, that neuropsychological technologies, such as fMRI, indicate that participants learning their second language after the age of seven demonstrate more divided brain activity than those bilingual participants who have learned a second language. second language at an early age. Furthermore, more recent research performed by DeKeyser, Alfi-Shabtay, and Ravid (2010) supports the theory of an early critical period for language learning as their research reveals that participants experience a dramatic decline in the acquisition of grammatical skills until age 18, after which the decline becomes almost negligible until age 40. Over the age of 40, they find that the results are confusing... half of the paper... While the ideal learning period may be past, adults can learn a second language with great proficiency if provided with adequate education and adequately motivated ​​​​to learning. Works Cited DeKeyser, R., Alfi-Shabtay, I. & Ravid, D. (2010). Cross-linguistic evidence for the nature of age effects in second language acquisition. Applied Psycholinguistics, 31 (3), 413-438. Hakuta, K., Bialystok, E. & Wiley, E. (2003). Critical evidence: A test of the critical period hypothesis for second language acquisition. Psychological Science, 14(1), 31-38.Newport, E. L. (2002). Critical periods in language development. (2002). Encyclopedia of cognitive science. London: Macmillan Publishers Ltd./Nature Publishing Group.Stevens, G. (2004). Using census data to test the critical period hypothesis for second language acquisition. Psychological science, 15 (3), 215-216.