Older language learners are less likely to achieve a near-native accent due to which theory?

• A. Critical Period Hypothesis
• B. De-contextualised Language
• C. Direct Method
• D. Dictogloss

Answer: (A)

Phonological development has a window of heightened plasticity in early life, captured by the Critical Period Hypothesis. This theory says that during childhood the brain is especially receptive to tuning itself to the sounds of a language, so exposure and practice in that period can lead to a near-native accent. After puberty, neural plasticity for pronunciation diminishes, and entrenched patterns from the first language tend to fossilize, making it much harder for older learners to attain a native-like accent even with lots of exposure. So, age-related differences in accent fit this explanation: the opportunity for native-like phonology is strongest earlier on and wanes later. The other options describe teaching methods or activities rather than the age-related limits on pronunciation, so they don’t explain why older learners struggle with accent.