How Easy Is It To Forget A Language If You Don’t Practice?

Is learning a language like riding a bike? Well, yeah, if you consider the fact that you’re probably going to look a tad clumsy the first couple times you try it. And additionally, yes from the standpoint of “you never truly forget once you learn” — but therein lies the caveat. What does it mean, in this case, to truly learn a language? And how well do you have to learn it to have this semi-permanent ability to recover your knowledge? Second language attrition, or the process of slowly forgetting a second language, spares few people who let their language go unpracticed for a long enough period of time. But the rate and timing with which it sets in is variable. Though there’s no one-size-fits-all answer (or guarantee that your burgeoning Swedish skills will still be there for you if you let them collect dust for two years), there are ways to estimate how quickly you’ll forget a foreign language if you stop using it. What The Studies Say Second language attrition has been examined from a scientific standpoint, and the general consensus seems to be that your level of proficiency is going to make a big difference in how long you’ll retain your language knowledge after you stop practicing. When information makes it into your long-term memory — or when you don’t have to strain your brain too hard in order to speak — you’ll probably be able to get back to your previous level of fluency with just a bit of elbow grease and practice in the future. Various research has pointed to a few consistent variables that can influence the rate of second language attrition any given individual experiences. One is age (both how old you were when you learned your language, and how old you […]

Click here to view full article