Scott Alexander investigates the claim that children learn languages faster than adults, finding it partially true but more nuanced than commonly believed.
Longer summary
Scott Alexander examines the claim that children learn languages faster than adults, finding it to be partially true but more complex than commonly believed. He explores various aspects of language acquisition, including critical periods for first language learning, age effects on second language learning, and differences in learning rates between children and adults. The post concludes that while children seem to pick up second languages faster than adults, this advantage is not as clear-cut as often thought, and factors like exposure, motivation, and declining learning rates with age play significant roles.
Shorter summary