Is there a Critical Period Hypothesis in Second Language Acquisition?

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2013 im Fachbereich Didaktik für das Fach Englisch - Pädagogik, Sprachwissenschaft, Note: 3,0, Universität zu Köln, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: This paper wants to research into the question of the existence of a Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH) in Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Further, since this theory was already introduced in the early 60's, I will have a closer look at the modifications of the CPH, i.e. the Sensitive Period Hypothesis (SPH). By the help of taking some of the findings from different studies into account, I will try to answer the underlying question.