Forest rangers rescue a 12-year-old girl from a forest in the United States. She does not speak any language and knows only one English word, "scared." The girl was lost in the forest when she was barely two years old, and this severely affected her language development. This scenario best reflects the importance of ________ in language development.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario illustrates the concept of the sensitivity period in language development, which suggests there is a critical phase in early childhood during which the human brain is particularly receptive to language acquisition. Missing this period, as in the case of the girl lost in the forest, can severely impact the ability to learn and use language later in life.

Forest Rangers Rescue a 12-Year-Old Girl from a Forest in the United