By about age 7, those who have not been exposed to either a spoken or a signed language gradually lose their ability to master any language. This illustrates the importance of ________ for language acquisition.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the question is known as the critical period, which refers to a specific period of time in which certain skills or abilities must be acquired in order to develop normally. In the case of language acquisition, the critical period is thought to span from early infancy to about age 7, after which individuals may struggle to master a language if they have not been exposed to one during that time. The other choices listed are unrelated to this phenomenon.

By About Age 7, Those Who Have Not Been Exposed