ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Statistical learning in language acquisition

Statistical learning is like when you learn to play with Legos. At first, you don't know how to build anything. But you start to notice patterns, like how certain pieces fit together or what colors look good together. You learn these patterns through practice and trial-and-error.

In language acquisition, statistical learning is when you learn the patterns and rules of language by hearing lots of examples. Just like with Legos, you start to notice patterns and rules in the language you hear. For example, you may notice that when someone asks a question, their voice goes up at the end. Or maybe you notice that when someone says "I am going to the store," they always use the word "am" with "I."

By hearing lots of examples of these patterns and rules, you start to learn the rules of language. This is how you learn to speak and understand language. And just like with Legos, the more practice you get, the better you become at understanding and using language.