When a second-language learner's progress stalls for good, it is called:

1. A learner's speech sometimes plateaus short of full proficiency. 2. This plateau is known as fossilization. 3. Positive transfer is helpful carry-over from the first language. 4. The silent period is an early wait before speaking, and over-monitoring is excess self-checking. **Why not the others:** Positive transfer, the silent period and over-monitoring are different ideas and do not mean a permanent plateau. _Source: Wikipedia, "Second-language acquisition", section "Comparisons with first-language acquisition" (revision 1380191148)_