ADULTS LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE 2
A number of theories seek to explain difficulties in Second Language Acquisition. For
instance, Koda, (2007), presents a crosslinguistic constraints perspective noting that
individuals would have difficulties in learning a second language that is phoenitically
different from their first language. However, for adults, the process becomes more tedius and
complex due to the other factors. Ballard, (2010), asserted that distractions and lack of focus
increased likelihood of forgetfulness. As individuals grow older, the number of distractions
increases reducing the effectiveness of memory creation and retention. Additionally, reduced
interactions with the general population reduces application of the second language with
increases forgetfulness. As noted by Reali, Chater, and Christiansen, (2018), size of
population and degree of interaction influences the properties of human language. Therefore
with reduced size of population that adults come into contact with, language memory is
bound to reduce. Another interesting perspective was opined by Çetin, (2011), whose primary
concern was mental pollution. The argument was that mental pollution reduces the
effectiveness of language memory retention and while mental pollution is evident in all ages,
it increases with age. In this way, adults with higher mental pollution would likely be more
forgetfull of Second and Foreign languages learned.
The role of memory retention in SLA and FLL cannot be understated. Despite
assumptions and arguments of an absencce of relationship between age and effective SLA
and FLL, the fact that forgetfulness is more prevalent with deteriorating neurological,
cognitive, and social functions in older indiviuals is evidence of the existent relationship. As
note by literature, distractions, and mental pollution reduces memory formation functionality
and as such affects adult SLA. In seeking to increase second language acquisition efficiency,
it is evident that individuals should reduce distractions, and enhancing focus as this would
impove the memory retention, reduce forgetfulness, and in turn increase the efficiency of
Second Language Acqusition and Foreign Language Learning.
