The best time to learn a foreign language

Unraveling how kids become bilingual so easily  Scientists seeking ways to make learning new languages easier on adults 

The best time to learn a foreign language: Between birth and age 7. Missed that window?

New research is showing just how children's brains can become bilingual so easily, findings that scientists hope eventually could help the rest of us learn a new language a bit easier.

"We think the magic that kids apply to this learning situation, some of the principles, can be imported into learning programs for adults," says Dr. Patricia Kuhl of the University of Washington, who is part of an international team now trying to turn those lessons into more teachable technology.

Each language uses a unique set of sounds. Scientists now know babies are born with the ability to distinguish all of them, but that ability starts weakening even before they start talking, by the first birthday.

Kuhl offers an example: Japanese doesn't distinguish between the "L" and "R" sounds of English — "rake" and "lake" would sound the same. Her team proved that a 7-month-old in Tokyo and a 7-month-old in Seattle respond equally well to those different sounds. But by 11 months, the Japanese infant had lost a lot of that ability.

Read more by clicking here.

Internet jargon

Let's have an update on the jargon used when talking about Internet and technology.

A Day Made of Glass... Made possible by Corning.

Babies know how to communicate

From  a very early age babies can communicate with their peers. 
Watch the video of these twin brothers. Aren't they lovely? 

Now, can we call these exchanges real talk? 

What do babies know about the system of communication?  

Linguists have a lot to say about it. Would you like to read that?