The Science of Language Acquisition: How the Brain Learns a New Language

Have you considered learning a new language? If so, have you thought of all the work that goes into learning a new language?

Well, before you answer, here’s some good news: you’ve already learned a new language…your native one!

Nobody is born pre-programmed to speak English or Italian, Persian or Portuguese, French or Farsi. Every person who is able to speak and comprehend speech has already gone through the process of language acquisition.

That’s right – you’ve successfully “graduated” all the stages of language acquisition, from forming words and sentences, to perfecting your pronunciation, and even honing your aural (listening) skills to understand conversations in your native language.

What is language acquisition? How does your brain learn a new language? By understanding these core concepts, you’re better able to leverage the linguistic capability you already have and apply it to learn an additional language. Pimsleur helps optimize all phases of language acquisition in your favor; the Pimsleur Method™ uses a natural approach to learning new languages, with principles that fall in line with innate language acquisition techniques.

What Is Language Acquisition?

Before we discuss the steps in language acquisition and how the brain works to help you learn new languages, it helps to define the term. So, what exactly is language acquisition?

In short, it’s your brain’s instinctive ability to acquire a new language with sensory stimulation and processes. Instead of rote memorization, your mind’s aptitude to absorb speech comes through interaction, context, and constant contact and stimulation – mostly in the form of speaking and listening to the language.

Think of it this way…language acquisition is “natural.” Language learning is “forced.” And that’s not intended to disparage the process of language learning in any way. After all, the Pimsleur app is one of the best language learning apps on the market. And what separates it from the rest is that Pimsleur’s unique instructional techniques are based on language acquisition methods similar to how a child learns their first language:

Active listening and speaking
Subconscious learning, not just conscious application of linguistic principles
Everyday exposure, instead of scheduled instruction
Learning with meaning and context

The Major Stages of Language Acquisition

Language acquisition takes years. However, intuitive learning platforms like Pimsleur, which employ organic language acquisition techniques, can shorten the learning curve considerably.

Here are the major stages of language acquisition:

Pre-speaking phase. Long before you speak your first intelligible word, you’re subconsciously uttering sounds (also called phonemes), the foundational elements of words. This includes cooing, crying, and the like – all during your first year of life. During this language acquisition stage, the foundations are established for your first words!
One and two-word formation. From approximately 12 to 24 months old, you’re taking those basic sounds and starting to say one to two words (“ball,” “mom,” “dad,” “need milk,” etc.). This is a crucial bridge between rudimentary sounds and coherent sentences. During this stage, your vocabulary slowly expands, and you’re starting to figure out core sentence concepts like identifiers, word placement, and processing syntax & structure.
Basic and longer sentences. During this language acquisition stage (approximately 2-4 years old), sentences form. They’re basic at first (“daddy play,” “mommy wash hands”), but meaningful, purposeful thoughts are now included with speech communication. You’re also learning to understand native speakers more intently – both on a conscious and subconscious level.
Continued language improvement. Everyone acquires language differently, but from about 4-6 years old, your pronunciation kicks into gear. More complex sentences emerge, you’re able to speak multi-syllable words with ease, and your grammar is nearly fully formed.
Complete speech formation. By the time you’re 6-7 years old (again, some learn faster, some slower), your “adult” speech patterns are fully in place. This is where you’re able to transfer speech to paper (reading and writing skills), master complex sentence structure, and develop your vocabulary enough to comprehend advanced concepts and meaning.

Taken as a whole, these language acquisition phases take you from the womb to widespread language development – and most of the time, it is your brain handling constant inputs and producing intelligible outputs.

How the Brain Processes New Sounds and Structures: The Driving Force of Language Acquisition

Your brain is the dynamic engine that helps you understand speech sounds, formulate subconscious linguistic competency, and develop speaking skills – and it never shuts off! Even after that 6-7 year process of initial language acquisition, it’s constantly processing new information, boosting your vocabulary, and developing superior pronunciation skills.

Here’s how the brain processes all those inputs that inevitably turn into a refined way of speaking:

Phoneme-based processing. Like any high-performing super processor, your brain breaks everything down to its simplest parts – including words. Those phonemes mentioned earlier (the building blocks of every word) are processed in your mind, sorted, and compared against your existing knowledge. They’re then used to develop basic words.
Motor skill processing. Your brain’s frontal lobe contains the motor cortex, which handles all voluntary movements. Speech is mostly a voluntary process, and your motor cortex controls your mouth (jaw, lips, tongue, etc.) to form words correctly.
Structure & sorting. During language acquisition, you’re not reading instructions to recognize patterns…your brain’s automatically handling everything. From speech pace and cadence to frequent sounds and sentences, your brain processes patterns to help your speech naturally anticipate what words to say next.
Memory mastery. All along the way, your brain is building meaning and context. This is improved with something called procedural memory, which helps you instantly apply grammar, structure, and syntax. This is in contrast to declarative memory, which is based on more hard and fast rules. Expert speakers typically utilize procedural memory more than declarative memory, though both are involved with coherent speech.

Pimsleur Helps You with All the Steps in Language Acquisition

Pimsleur’s scientifically proven approach to learning a new language aligns perfectly with the basic language acquisition stages. Pimsleur helps you acquire a new language with the natural techniques you used to form your first coherent words and sentences.

In short, Pimsleur applies language acquisition science with our audio-based courses and lessons. As a result, you’re able to acquire a new language in a matter of weeks or months, not years! Sign up with Pimsleur today – see how our unique instructional technique can get you speaking a new language more easily than you thought!