About half of the world’s population speaks at least two languages, but an emphasis on learning multiple languages isn’t as prevalent in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 20% of Americans speak a second language. Differences in education systems likely account for a good bit of the difference in language-learning rates. In European countries, most students begin studying a foreign language in school between the ages of 6 and 9, and a median of 92% of K-12 European students study a foreign language, according to the European Commission. In contrast, only 20% of American grade-school students study a foreign language. 

But school requirements aren’t the only thing that impacts language learning. Other factors including the age of the student and the type of the language significantly impact a person’s ability to learn a new language. Why does it seem so much easier for children to learn a new language than it does for an adult?  

Research supports the idea that there is a critical age period for maximum proficiency in learning a new language — the younger, the better. According to a study by MIT, that age cutoff is 10. A language student who begins learning before the age of 10 has a good chance of becoming as proficient as a native speaker would be, but after age 10, it is nearly impossible to become that proficient. This language learning could take place through formal classes in school, or it might be through immersion, such as in a bilingual family environment or if a child immigrates to a new country and learns a second language.

The chance of proficiency declines after age 10, but those between the ages of 10 and 18 still have a higher retention rate than older learners, especially when it comes to learning new grammar. Researchers aren’t sure why retention rates drop so dramatically after age 18, but it could be due to cultural and social changes at this age (such as moving out of the family home) or biological reasons (changes in brain plasticity).

It’s still possible to learn a new language at any age, but it seems that children do have an advantage.

Of course, if you didn’t start learning a new language as a young child, that doesn’t mean you’ll never be able to acquire some level of new language proficiency — it just means you’re unlikely to be mistaken as a native speaker. Also, there are advantages to learning as an adult, just as there are benefits to a childlike style of learning. (Fun word fact: “Andragogy” is the method and practice of teaching adult learners.)

Brain chemistry: Children are built to absorb new information, even unconsciously.

Learning style: Children are implicit learners and better at listening and imitation. Their brains are designed to do this at that age.

Material and context: Children are used to being taught small bits of simple information, including colors, numbers, songs, and shapes. Adults tend to be taught more complex language concepts.

Confidence: Children aren’t afraid to mess up a word or fumble through a sentence, whereas adult learners are less likely to practice new skills out loud. Practicing out loud is one of the most effective ways to master a new language.

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Learning style: Adults are explicit learners who are better at intentionally learning a new language through lessons. They also have longer attention spans and more literacy skills. When tested in formal language labs, adults performed better than children.

Dedication: Children might not have the same motivation or level of commitment as adults do when learning a second language.

Overall, there are advantages for learning a second language at any age. Children might have an easier time becoming proficient, but adults can still have great success in learning a second (or third, or fourth) language.

When a business wants to evoke a sense of nostalgia, they might pick the name “Ye Olde Shoppe.” Similarly, a pint in “Ye Olde Tavern” is sure to be accompanied by some old-timey decorations. The use of “ye olde” as an advertising tactic is appropriate because even though it seems like something from the lexicon of Old English speakers, it was actually coined in the 1850s for commercial purposes.  

There’s also the issue of pronunciation. To our modern eyes and ears, “ye olde” seems like it would be pronounced “yee old” or even “yee old-ee.” But if we followed Old English rules, from which this expression originated, it would be pronounced with the “y” sounding like “th”: “thee old.” In Old English, the alphabet was different than it is today. Instead of a “Y,” a letter called a thorn (þ) was used in many words, and it was pronounced with a “th” sound. While “ye olde” wasn’t in use until the 1850s, the word þe, pronounced “thee,” was in Old English. 

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When it comes to “olde,” the “-e” at the end is silent, just as it is in “shoppe,” another word that’s been given the old-fashioned treatment for the sake of advertising. 

If you were in elementary school in the 1980s, your classrooms were filled with Jennifers, Amys, Heathers, Michaels, Jasons, and Christophers. Boys in the 1990s were still named Michael and Christopher, but girls were Jessicas, Ashleys, and Emilys. These names seem dated by today’s standards, but some of the most popular baby names of today call back to names that were fashionable a century ago.

The Social Security Administration tracks baby names going back to the 1880s, when John and Mary were the most common monikers. It recently released its list of the most popular baby names from 2024. Here’s a look at the most popular first names for babies in the United States and the history and meaning behind them. 

The most popular boy name last year was Liam — a name that’s held the top spot in the United States since 2017. Liam is a name of Irish origin that comes from the Gaelic Uilliam, which itself is derived from the Frankish Willahelm. It means “strong-willed warrior” or “protector.” While common in Ireland for centuries, Liam didn’t become a known first name in the United States until the 19th-century Irish migration. It jumped in popularity in 2010, and it’s been in the top 10 of boy names since 2012.

Olivia is the most popular girl name in the U.S., and is widely used in other English speaking countries, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. It’s derived from the Latin oliva, meaning “olive tree,” and it’s been used as a name since the 13th century. Some attribute the name’s popularity, in part, to the character Olivia from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. It’s been in the top 10 girl names since 2001. 

The name Noah is an important biblical name, coming from the story of the famous ark keeper in the Book of Genesis. It’s derived either from the Hebrew word Noach or the Babylonian nukhu, both of which mean “rest” or “repose.” From 2013 to 2016, Noah was the most popular boy name in the U.S., and it’s been the second most common since 2017.

The name Emma can be traced back to Emma of Normandy — an 11th-century noblewoman who married Æthelred the Unready, the king of England. This first name comes from the Germanic Ermen, which means “whole” or “universal,” and the name is considered to be a sign that the child means everything to their parents. Emma’s enduring popularity is partially due to its prominence in pop culture — it’s the name of the title character in an 1815 Jane Austen novel, and in more modern times, it’s the name of Ross and Rachel’s daughter on the TV sitcom Friends. It’s been in the top 5 girl names since 2002, but it was also popular around the early 20th century. From 1900 to 1922, it was in the top 50 girl names.  

Traditionally, Oliver is the masculine variation of the feminine name Olivia. Some say it’s derived from the Latin olivarius, meaning “olive planter.” It may also come from the French olivier, meaning “olive tree,” and it can be connected linguistically to the Old Norse name Áleifr, which translates to “ancestor’s descendant.” Oliver has been the third most popular boy name since 2019. 

Given the trailblazing legacy of the most famous Amelia of all time — Amelia Earhart — it’s appropriate that this first name means “industrious” or “work.” Amelia comes from the Hebrew amal, and it can also be traced back to ancient Rome, where Aemi’lia gens was the title of an elite Patrician family in society. Amelia is currently ranked third for girl names, but has been in the top 10 since 2016.

Theodore means “gift of God.” It comes from the Greek Theodoros, which combines theos (“God”) with doron (“gift”). The name was once popular among English speakers in the Middle Ages, and it saw a resurgence in the 1910s just after the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. Theodore jumped in popularity throughout the 2010s, hitting the top 10 boy names in 2021.

Charles comes from the Old English ceorl, which was used in contrast to thew (meaning “enslaved person”) and eorl (meaning “noble person”). Charlotte became a popular feminine form of Charles in the 18th century, as -otte is a feminine diminutive suffix. It’s likely that Charlotte became a popular name in recent years after the birth of Princess Charlotte in 2015. It’s been in the top 10 girl names since 2014, and it was in the top 100 girl names from 1908 to 1953.  

As the name of biblical figures, English kings, and U.S. presidents, the first name James rarely goes out of style. It’s believed to be derived from the Hebrew Yaakov, meaning “supplanter,” and it has etymological connections to the name Jacob. James was once the most popular U.S. boy name from 1940 to 1952, and it remains in the top 5.

The name Mia comes from the name Maria, which itself is derived from the Hebrew Miryam. That name can be traced to ancient Egypt, specifically the word mery, meaning “beloved.” In the U.S., Mia was largely considered to be just a nickname until the 1960s, when it became viewed as a name on its own. It has held a firm place in the top 10 most popular U.S. girl names since 2009.

“I search-engined it” just doesn’t have the same ring as “I Googled it.” This is a perfect example of how language catches up with technology — people started using the most popular search engine in the world so much that it became the de facto verb for the activity itself. (Fun fact: The first time “Googling” appeared as a verb on TV was in a 2002 episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.) 

Now we’re in the middle of the next wave of tech: the AI explosion. While there’s not a verb equivalent to “Googling” in the common lexicon yet, it leads us to wonder: Should we be crediting AI when we use it? 

The short answer is yes — you should credit AI if you use it, just as you’d credit a book, article, website, or any other source. If it’s a casual usage, you might just say, “I asked ChatGPT for recommendations,” or “I used AI to research this,” and that would be enough. If you’re doing professional or academic writing however, we can turn to style guides (AP, APA, or MLA, for example) for guidance.

The recommendations differ between style guides,  but there are some fundamental basics when it comes to citing AI. If you reference an exact quote or paraphrase any AI-generated output, cite the tool you used (e.g., ChatGPT). It’s critical to do this for transparency, as attempting to pass off AI-generated content as an original idea compromises your integrity as a writer. 

The same goes if you use AI to help edit, translate, or generate ideas for a piece, even if you don’t quote the output verbatim. In this case, you should include a sentence in the introduction or appendix to generally explain how AI was used to help produce the piece, rather than a bunch of specific citations. For example, you could write, “Ideas for this article were generated with the help of ChatGPT.” Doing this helps promote transparency and maintain integrity.

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For specific citations, refer to whatever style guide you use, as each has specific formatting guidelines and requirements. For example, APA recommends treating AI as an author, while MLA recommends leaving the author section out of the citation. 

We don’t use AI tools to write our content on Word Smarts, but we love learning how to use new technology, and keeping up with the language that goes along with it. And we do use AI tools to help us brainstorm new topic ideas and fine-tune headlines and email subject lines. As the technology continues to evolve, we expect there will be more ways to use it and better recommendations for writers. While there’s no equivalent for “Googling” yet, it’s just a matter of time.