Skip to content
By using Twitter’s services you agree to our Cookies Use. We and our partners operate globally and use cookies, including for analytics, personalisation, and ads.
  • Home Home Home, current page.
  • About

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Language: English
    • Bahasa Indonesia
    • Bahasa Melayu
    • Català
    • Čeština
    • Dansk
    • Deutsch
    • English UK
    • Español
    • Filipino
    • Français
    • Hrvatski
    • Italiano
    • Magyar
    • Nederlands
    • Norsk
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Română
    • Slovenčina
    • Suomi
    • Svenska
    • Tiếng Việt
    • Türkçe
    • Ελληνικά
    • Български език
    • Русский
    • Српски
    • Українська мова
    • עִבְרִית
    • العربية
    • فارسی
    • मराठी
    • हिन्दी
    • বাংলা
    • ગુજરાતી
    • தமிழ்
    • ಕನ್ನಡ
    • ภาษาไทย
    • 한국어
    • 日本語
    • 简体中文
    • 繁體中文
  • Have an account? Log in
    Have an account?
    · Forgot password?

    New to Twitter?
    Sign up
sapinker's profile
Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
Verified account
@sapinker

Tweets

Steven PinkerVerified account

@sapinker

Cognitive scientist at Harvard.

Boston, MA
pinker.wjh.harvard.edu
Joined January 2010

Tweets

  • © 2018 Twitter
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Terms
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • Ads info
Dismiss
Previous
Next

Go to a person's profile

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @

Promote this Tweet

Block

  • Tweet with a location

    You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more

    Your lists

    Create a new list


    Under 100 characters, optional

    Privacy

    Copy link to Tweet

    Embed this Tweet

    Embed this Video

    Add this Tweet to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Add this video to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Hmm, there was a problem reaching the server.

    By embedding Twitter content in your website or app, you are agreeing to the Twitter Developer Agreement and Developer Policy.

    Preview

    Why you're seeing this ad

    Log in to Twitter

    · Forgot password?
    Don't have an account? Sign up »

    Sign up for Twitter

    Not on Twitter? Sign up, tune into the things you care about, and get updates as they happen.

    Sign up
    Have an account? Log in »

    Two-way (sending and receiving) short codes:

    Country Code For customers of
    United States 40404 (any)
    Canada 21212 (any)
    United Kingdom 86444 Vodafone, Orange, 3, O2
    Brazil 40404 Nextel, TIM
    Haiti 40404 Digicel, Voila
    Ireland 51210 Vodafone, O2
    India 53000 Bharti Airtel, Videocon, Reliance
    Indonesia 89887 AXIS, 3, Telkomsel, Indosat, XL Axiata
    Italy 4880804 Wind
    3424486444 Vodafone
    » See SMS short codes for other countries

    Confirmation

     

    Welcome home!

    This timeline is where you’ll spend most of your time, getting instant updates about what matters to you.

    Tweets not working for you?

    Hover over the profile pic and click the Following button to unfollow any account.

    Say a lot with a little

    When you see a Tweet you love, tap the heart — it lets the person who wrote it know you shared the love.

    Spread the word

    The fastest way to share someone else’s Tweet with your followers is with a Retweet. Tap the icon to send it instantly.

    Join the conversation

    Add your thoughts about any Tweet with a Reply. Find a topic you’re passionate about, and jump right in.

    Learn the latest

    Get instant insight into what people are talking about now.

    Get more of what you love

    Follow more accounts to get instant updates about topics you care about.

    Find what's happening

    See the latest conversations about any topic instantly.

    Never miss a Moment

    Catch up instantly on the best stories happening as they unfold.

    Steven Pinker‏Verified account @sapinker May 2

    Cognitive scientists define critical period for learning language: We were surprised by our finding, which takes into account the many years needed to reach proficiency.https://news.mit.edu/2018/cognitive-scientists-define-critical-period-learning-language-0501#.Wumsl3s9Blw.twitter …

    5:22 AM - 2 May 2018
    • 140 Retweets
    • 323 Likes
    • Eduscientia wergrgwwgw Heulwen Sweet Manuel Álvarez López was Anna ashley swigart Oli HN dimebarcelona
    15 replies 140 retweets 323 likes
      1. New conversation
      2. Peter PielaetStrayer‏ @PeterLaetStray May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        @Fluent_Forever this book/program helped me become functional as an adult while I was in Korea. It's definitely hard to do, but there's ways to "hack" the process of learning a language

        1 reply 1 retweet 3 likes
      3. Peter PielaetStrayer‏ @PeterLaetStray May 2
        Replying to @PeterLaetStray @sapinker @Fluent_Forever

        As you can tell by my tweet, my English still needs some work😛😛

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
      4. End of conversation
      1. Joseph Anderson‏ @JandersonJoseph May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        And of course the typical American school kid starts his or her first foreign language course at about age 15 - brilliant!

        0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. ZeitVox‏ @ZeitVox May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        Perhaps a good argument for philosophy in high school. That way they don't stumble into the field unawares and make idiotic representations about the Enlightenment.

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Cristina de Haro‏ @Miss_de_Haro May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        Thank you for sharing this. However, I must say MOTIVATION is also key. I had senior students who fell in love with the language and now can pass as natives. However, they insisted that it was only because they were very motivated while learning the language.

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. New conversation
      2. Michael Schmitz‏ @Modemichael May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        But this study is just about grammar and thus consistent with the idea that the window of acquiring perfect pronunciation closes much earlier (around 10, or so I thought), so shouldn't it say "critical period for acquiring grammar"?

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      3. Thomas Q. Wilmore‏ @WilmorQuincy May 2
        Replying to @Modemichael @sapinker

        Yeah, I think perfect pronunciation closes around age 7... at least, that’s what I learned in my human development class. Could be wrong.

        1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
      4. 2 more replies
      1. Consuelo Corrales‏ @ConsueCorrales May 3
        Replying to @sapinker @hectorabadf

        In addition, it is not the same to learn a language by following a textbook (12 y/old in MX learning English) than by immersion in the culture (12 y/old born in MX, attending school in the US). Would the conclusions of the study apply equally in both cases?

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Consuelo Corrales‏ @ConsueCorrales May 3
        Replying to @sapinker @hectorabadf

        There is also the question of what exactly means to learn a language. Grammar is just one of the skills. Some people may be able to read proficiently or comprehend when listening, yet failing at putting a sentence together. Haven't they learned the language?

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Madame/Senora Resch‏ @MmeSraResch May 3
        Replying to @sapinker

        Very interesting. Focuses on English as L2, though. Wondering if there’s a difference depending on the L2. Grammar is harder in English than in many other languages.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Weston Wilson‏ @irresplendancy May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        Unfortunately, this will be interpreted by some as evidence for the "younger is better" approach to second language learning, which has given us such marvels as Skype English class for Chinese babies.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Patricia O'Halloran‏ @triciaohlala May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        It is very hard to lean a language as an adult. That makes immigration so hard!

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Garth Kroeker‏ @DrGarthK May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        I suspect many other skill areas, such as in music, mathematics, art, and even CBT-like self-soothing, are best learned as early as possible in childhood, for similar reasons. For people who learn later on, their skills may be “accented.”

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. VHJe‏ @Vibeke_Hovgaard May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        Older generations of Dutch & Scandinavians owe much of their proficiency in English to sub-titled TV

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. 24K Magic‏ @ZAR_Chez May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        1. Neuroplasticity is proven to be better at a younger age (more malleable/formative) 2. Immersion in a language (language-immersion) is vital -reinforces the more subtle grammatical structures 3. Newer, fresh neuron synapses at a younger age retain/reinforce better

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Blind Willie‏ @willsmithyyp May 2
        Replying to @sapinker

        @KarmaMarklund something that may interest you

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo

    Loading seems to be taking a while.

    Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.

      Promoted Tweet

      false

      • © 2018 Twitter
      • About
      • Help Center
      • Terms
      • Privacy policy
      • Cookies
      • Ads info