Posted: Nov 30, 2010 12:20 pm
Thanks for the explanations about learning. 
Wouldn't that mean that the "critical" period is not so critical after all and shouldn't be understood in absolute terms but rather as the optimal time window for learning?
katja z wrote:On the other hand, we know that some (although rare) late learners do achieve native-like fluency in their second language (depending, however, on how you define "native-like fluency" - it isn't too clear a measure of language proficiency but what it certainly doesn't mean is "knowing the language inside out", because in this case many native speakers wouldn't fulfill the criteria!).
True, and I imagine those speakers would have similar activation rates as native speakers.
Wouldn't that mean that the "critical" period is not so critical after all and shouldn't be understood in absolute terms but rather as the optimal time window for learning?