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Learning a foreign language
学习一门外语
When it comes to learning a second language, adults are at a disadvantage. As we age, our brain’s plasticity (its ability to create new neurons and synapses) is reduced. Following brain damage that causes a loss of speech, for instance, researchers have observed that children are more likely to regain the power of speech, by creating new pathways in the brain to replace the damaged ones.
说到学习第二语言，成人总是处于不利地位。随着年龄增长，人类大脑的可塑性就会衰退，而这种可塑性却能产生新的神经元与突触。紧接着大脑损伤便会造成语言能力的丧失。比如，研究人员已经发现，通过新陈代谢取代大脑受损细胞，儿童更容易重新获得语言能力。
There’s still hope, though. A study of secondary language pronunciation found that some learners who started as adults scored as well as native speakers. It’s also been shown that motivation to learn can improve proficiency, so if you really want to learn a language, it’s not necessarily too late.
当然希望还是有的。一项有关第二语言发音的研究发现，有些成年学习者照样可以将外语学得很地道。而且，学习语言的动机能极大提高语言掌握的熟练度。所以，如果你真的特别想学某种语言，任何时候都不算晚。
