One of the key factors contributing to the decline in the ability to recognize unfamiliar sounds in a foreign language is the process of perceptual narrowing, which refers to the fine-tuning of the auditory system to the specific phonetic properties of the native language. In early infancy, humans possess a remarkable capacity to discriminate between a wide range of phonetic contrasts, even those that are not relevant to their native language. However, as they are exposed to the sounds of their native language and receive less exposure to the sounds of other languages, their sensitivity to non-native phonetic contrasts gradually decreases.
This process of perceptual narrowing is thought to be driven by the brain’s natural tendency to optimize its processing resources for the most relevant and frequently encountered stimuli, in this case, the phonetic properties of the native language. By tuning out non-native phonetic contrasts, the brain can more efficiently process and encode the phonetic information that is most relevant to the individual’s linguistic environment.
Aha you know we have the same conversations a lot on LingQ :).
I had a conversation with someone at LingQ about this on their livestream 18 months ago. I am actually considering making some YouTube videos where I simply demo the different ways I have and do use LingQ.
To break things into some stages:
When you know nothing.
Listen to familiar and compelling audio.
Intensively read the transcript creating detailed LingQs for each word (including grammar explanations).
R+L and for each unknown word try and remember what it means. If you remember what it means twice in a row on different pages, increase the status. If you forget, reduce a stage.
Listen again to the audio trying to understand as much as you can.
Pick different topics in the grammar and read about them.
When that becomes too slow.
Cut out #1 and/or #4.
Continue lite grammar study.
When even that becomes too slow.
Simply R+L. For each unknown word try and understand it. If you understand it in context, make it known. If you do not understand it choose the first LingQ option and move on. Even if the LingQ is just a repeat of the word.
Previously LingQ’d words follow the same pattern. Twice in a row? Up a status. Missed once? Down a status.
Over time, increase the audio speed. I find for me between 1,3 and 1,5 is the sweet spot, but go as fast as seems to make sense for you.
Continue to be curious about grammar. If you notice something, look it up. Try to notice it more.
Consider reviewing some of the LingQs to make better, more useful definitions.
When this becomes easy.
Switch to monolingual dictionaries.
Use your preferred SRS app to study uncommon words and collocations.
Continue to be curious about grammar. Consider cloze SRS cards for grammar (e.g., prepositions, cases, moods).
When this becomes easy.
Turn off highlighting in LingQ.
Keep practicing.
When this becomes easy.
Stop R+L, just listen and just read.
Keep practicing.
When this becomes easy.
Stop using LingQ or any assistance. Enjoy the endless journey. Keep practicing.
Thank you for such a generous and comprehensive reply!
A series of videos on youtube would be amazing. Six months into my own engagement with Lingq, it seems that it’s a great, flexible tool and it’s fascinating to see different approaches.
I’m going to try to implement the strategy you outlined, it all makes sense, and seems like a powerful way (as mentioned earlier in this thread) to challenge the urge to stall in anaylsis!
As a Spanish speaker learning French, it is difficult for me to hear the differences between e-è-é, as in Spanish there is only 1 sound for each vowel.
There was some video I watched before that said that all babies can hear all sounds from all human language, but that quickly reduces to only hear the sounds they need for their native language by as early as 6 months old.
I can relate to this in many ways ever since beginning my journey of learning Arabic. I am fluent in English, Spanish (Mexican Dialect), and American Sign Language however Arabic has been a different experience in terms of hearing the differentiation between the words. Often the sounds are carried over so there is a lot of overlap that as a non-native learner of Arabic really challenges me to be able to differentiate them but like you said the listening aspect is key. For me Arabic is like one big puzzle when it comes to not only the prefix’s and suffixes that are added ext but also the sounds in general.
I’ve had some bilingual children say they have their own language, and they interpret it to us adults. I wasn’t sure I believed them. I mean, I heard it, they were using “words” that weren’t in either of the two family languages, but I don’t know if they were really communicating. So I don’t know if they really invented some communication, or if it was all pretend.
I have felt frustrated by the fact that if I listen to a talk in a different language, even if I understand most or all of it, I generally can’t remember or repeat most of the sentences or phrasings. Even knowing and appreciating and being amused by what they said, I can’t repeat lines from it the way I usually can if I’d listened to it in English.
I mention this because I think it’s related, although I’ve no idea why the difference for me with English: when I’m listening to normal speed speech in a different language, I’m not really noticing individual words. And then for some reason, I can’t recall them afterwards, in the way I can in English.
Maybe my inability to repeat what they said is some measure of lack of fluency, and maybe that will decrease with more fluency?
I have sometimes wondered if my tired brain was somehow better at absorbing languages than when it’s fully alert. But I kind of doubt it. I get what you mean by over analyzing and how that can hold you back. I think that’s where lots and lots of input comes in. After you input a LOT, parts of your brain that analyze information or maybe block it seem to just shut down and you kind of absorb it or so it seems to me.