Cognition August 2018 PMID 29729947

A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers.

Joshua K Hartshorne, Joshua B Tenenbaum, Steven Pinker

Mentions

123
Peak: 5 in Aug 2024
across 7 sources since Jun 2018

Extended reach

443,949
potential audience

Total likes

8,310

Video views

212,646

Mentions per month

Jun 2018 – Jun 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News68 articles
  • X / Twitter28 posts
  • Blogs11 articles
  • Facebook8 posts
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Reddit3 posts
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

This collection reflects strong agreement with the research's conclusions, as seen in comments stating that the study 'busts the myth' about adult language learning and citing the large dataset, which enhances credibility. The tone is mostly informative and supportive, emphasizing the study's significance and encouraging further exploration of the findings.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions show strong support for the idea that the research challenges earlier beliefs about language learning in adults, with phrases like 'busts the myth' and 'evidence from 2/3 million English speakers,' indicating agreement.

InterestHigh interest

There is high interest, evidenced by many posts sharing summaries, summaries, links, and emphasizing the significance of the study, showing active engagement.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts include references to the study's methods, citations of the researchers, and discussions on implications, reflecting a moderate level of deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest the research could influence how language learning is viewed, with mentions of its potential to 'reshape' understanding of language acquisition and educational approaches.

Abstract in brief

  • This study uses a massive dataset of 669,498 English speakers to investigate how language learning ability changes with age, addressing limitations of previous research through advanced modeling techniques.
  • The findings reveal that grammar learning ability remains strong until about age 17-19 and then declines steadily, supporting the idea of a critical period for language acquisition that is later than previously thought.
  • The research provides new insights into the timing of language learning ability decline, including its impact on mastering both easy and complex syntactic structures, and offers broader implications for understanding language development.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Matteo
@overtonsover · X

The ability to learn languages declines steadily past the critical period (0-18). "The end of the critical period might reflect late-emerging neural maturation processes that compromise the circuitry responsible for successful language acquisition". https://t.co/T2rLl2bZ9F https://t.co/4xWksTGjWf

Aug 5, 2024 · 30 likes · 5 shares · 3,523 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

Jun 25, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 2,017 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

Nov 23, 2022 · 4 likes · 3 shares · 2,017 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

@SpeakinFluently @MultilingualCh This one may come in handy: https://t.co/AgEp5nIKE0

Aug 22, 2022 · 3 likes · 2,017 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

@baboig @PirainoXlations Check my video on it, where I quote empirical evidence and research articles, links included in the video description: https://t.co/AgEp5o0lvy

Oct 7, 2022 · 3 likes · 2,017 followers View post →
Dorothy Bishop
@deevybee · X

@skdh @PubPeer The Games with Words project is focused on syntax: researchers' main interest is in the intriguing question of whether there is a 'critical period' beyond which you will be v unlikely to attain native-like competence. https://t.co/PP6urGez3g

Jan 14, 2022 · 2 likes · 36,964 followers View post →

All mentions

The Mississippi
@themisixibi · X

“A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers” (Hartshorne, Tenenbaum, Pinker) Adults can reach fluency — this article busts the myth with updated cognitive science on L2 #Linguistics #AdultLearning

Jun 12, 2025 · 57 followers View post →
Stefamart7
@Stefamart7 · X

RT @matteozullo_mz: The ability to learn languages declines steadily past the critical period (0-18). "The end of the critical period migh…

Aug 6, 2024 · 5 shares · 1,481 followers View post →
Fabio Garzena
@WLKFabio · X

RT @matteozullo_mz: The ability to learn languages declines steadily past the critical period (0-18). "The end of the critical period migh…

Aug 6, 2024 · 5 shares · 452 followers View post →
83221n4ndr34
@83221n4ndr34 · X

RT @matteozullo_mz: The ability to learn languages declines steadily past the critical period (0-18). "The end of the critical period migh…

Aug 5, 2024 · 5 shares · 1,313 followers View post →
Dre1ntel
@Dre1ntel · X

RT @matteozullo_mz: The ability to learn languages declines steadily past the critical period (0-18). "The end of the critical period migh…

Aug 5, 2024 · 5 shares · 366 followers View post →
Matteo
@overtonsover · X

The ability to learn languages declines steadily past the critical period (0-18). "The end of the critical period might reflect late-emerging neural maturation processes that compromise the circuitry responsible for successful language acquisition". https://t.co/T2rLl2bZ9F https://t.co/4xWksTGjWf

Aug 5, 2024 · 30 likes · 5 shares · 3,523 followers View post →
Muhammad Alzaidi
@Malzaidi1 · X

مثل ما أوضحت هذه الدراسة: Hartshorne JK, Tenenbaum JB, Pinker S. (2018). A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers. Cognition.

May 11, 2024 · 5,127 followers View post →
Nora Newcombe
@noranewcombe.bsky.social · Bluesky

Hartshorne JK, Tenenbaum JB, Pinker S. A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers. Cognition. 2018 Aug;177:263-277. doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2018.04.007. Epub 2018 May 2. PMID: 29729947; PMCID: PMC6559801.

Jan 23, 2024 View post →
Navid Danyali
@naviddanyali · X

@Ali48007696 @sabber_dev مطالعه سال ۲۰۱۹ A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers حجم نمونه: قریب به ۶۷۰ هزار نتیجه: تا ۱۷.۴ سالگی توانایی اکتاسب زبان دوم حفظ میشه و پس از اون تدریجا کاهش پیدا می‌کنه. مشکل اینه که طراحی فضای آموزشی قرار نیست متاثر از..

Oct 12, 2023 · 204 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

@mnemosyneslog In general, though, adults should play to their strengths, rather than imitating babies: https://t.co/AgEp5nIKE0

Mar 9, 2023 · 1 like · 2,017 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

@languagesecret1 Here's a useful summary: https://t.co/AgEp5nIKE0

Jan 23, 2023 · 2 likes · 2,017 followers View post →
JeŠT
@JESTslo · X

RT @LanguageFreedo1:

Dec 14, 2022 · 3 shares · 67 followers View post →
Raising Multilinguals
@RMultilinguals · X

RT @LanguageFreedo1:

Nov 24, 2022 · 3 shares · 154 followers View post →
The Language Bot
@thelangbot · X

RT @LanguageFreedo1:

Nov 23, 2022 · 3 shares · 2,392 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

Nov 23, 2022 · 4 likes · 3 shares · 2,017 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

@baboig @PirainoXlations Check my video on it, where I quote empirical evidence and research articles, links included in the video description: https://t.co/AgEp5o0lvy

Oct 7, 2022 · 3 likes · 2,017 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

@SpeakinFluently @MultilingualCh This one may come in handy: https://t.co/AgEp5nIKE0

Aug 22, 2022 · 3 likes · 2,017 followers View post →
OA.mg
@OAmgHQ · X

2. A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers by @jkhartshorne at @BostonCollege, Joshua Tenenbaum at @MIT, and @sapinker at @Harvard published in 2018 https://t.co/TZR6DoNHu7

Jun 15, 2022 · 2,710 followers View post →
OA.mg
@OAmgHQ · X

1. A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers by Joshua Hartshorne @BostonCollege, Joshua Tenenbaum @MIT, and @sapinker at @Harvard published in 2018 https://t.co/TZR6DoNHu7

Jun 1, 2022 · 2,710 followers View post →
Anthony Ellis
@skydog811 · X

A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers - PubMed https://t.co/abM5nwPEwu

Jan 17, 2022 · 1 like · 53,477 followers View post →
Anthony Ellis
@skydog811 · X

A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers - PubMed https://t.co/abM5nwPEwu

Jan 16, 2022 · 53,477 followers View post →
Dorothy Bishop
@deevybee · X

@skdh @PubPeer The Games with Words project is focused on syntax: researchers' main interest is in the intriguing question of whether there is a 'critical period' beyond which you will be v unlikely to attain native-like competence. https://t.co/PP6urGez3g

Jan 14, 2022 · 2 likes · 36,964 followers View post →
Cambly Kids | كامبلي كيدز
@CamblyK · X

@abody643g :تفضل Hartshorne, Joshua K et al. “A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers.” Cognition vol. 177 (2018): 263-277. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2018.04.007

Dec 13, 2021 · 52,301 followers View post →
Tyler Perrachione
@NeuroTyler · X

@spiantado @RemivanTrijp And this recent one: https://t.co/zHZ0aTk5Mb

Sep 3, 2021 · 2 likes · 893 followers View post →
Sergio Durand
@ChecoDurand · X

RT @LanguageFreedo1:

Jun 25, 2021 · 1 share · 617 followers View post →
The Hyperpolyglot Activist
@LanguageFreedo1 · X

Jun 25, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 2,017 followers View post →
Federica Breimaier
@Fede_Breimaier · X

A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers https://t.co/K50st0r9pL

Mar 15, 2021 · 160 followers View post →
Cesar Muedas
@muedas · X

Hartshorne, Joshua K et al. “A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers.” Cognition vol. 177 (2018): 263-277. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2018.04.007 https://t.co/H1c6zGt8rU

Sep 30, 2019 · 1 like · 386 followers View post →
Olga Kepinska @olgakepinska.bsky.social
@olgakepinska · X

@tscottphillips might be interesting to look at: Hartshorne, J.K., Tenenbaum, J.B., Pinker, S., 2018. A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers. Cognition 177, 263–277. https://t.co/EbskIRiH06

Jul 16, 2019 · 1 like · 294 followers View post →