Author(s)

Junyang Tang

Corresponding Author

Junyang Tang

ABSTRACT

Age effect has been widely discussed in the field of second language acquisition, from which critical period hypothesis (CPH) has been developed and applied to the research of SLA. What is the optimal timing to start learning a second language (L2)? This article will review the effects of age in two different domains of language: phonology and morphosyntax. By and large, younger learners seem to be able to reach a higher ultimate attainment of L2 learning than their later counterparts in terms of both pronunciation and grammar.

KEYWORDS

Age effect, Second Language Acquisition (SLA), Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH), phonology, morphosyntax, ultimate attainment