The benefits of a bilingual brain
It’s obvious that knowing more than one language can make certain things easier — like traveling or watching movies without subtitles. But there are other advantages to having a bilingual brain. While bilingualism won’t necessarily make you smarter, it does make your brain more healthy, complex and actively engaged.
What does it really mean to know a language?
Language ability is typically measured in two active parts (speaking and writing), and two passive parts (listening and reading). While a balanced bilingual has near equal abilities across the board in two languages, most bilinguals around the world know and use their languages in varying proportions. And depending on their situation and how they acquired each language, they can be classified into three general types.
A compound bilingual develops two linguistic codes simultaneously, with a single set of concepts. If you learned two languages from the time you were very young, chances are you are a compound bilingual.
A coordinate bilingual works with two sets of concepts, for example, someone who speaks one language at home and another in school or with friends.
Finally, a subordinate bilingual is someone who learns a secondary language by filtering it through their primary language.
But, did you know a multilingual brain actually has more grey matter than a monolingual brain?
Watch and learn:
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-speaking-multiple-languages-benefits-the-brain-mia-nacamulli
Animation by Lisa LaBracio
#neuroscience #bilingualbrain #ted
Avec plaisir :)
ReplyDeleteYou must be overloaded with grey matter then. English, French, Spanish, Hebrew, Romanian - am I missing any?
ReplyDeleteI am for sure a compound multilingual because my parents and grandparents were all speaking different languages, and all of them spoke to me in their own language when I was a little girl.
ReplyDeleteBut there's always the part of me when I tend to think in English and reply in French or Romanian. So really the swap occurs involuntary.
English French Vietnamese Thailand Mandarin. And a bit of Korean and japanese.
ReplyDelete00 Negative- Anonymous that's pretty neat.
ReplyDeleteExposure at a young age is certainly advantageous, it becomes second nature. I really didn't pursue languages when at school (did French and German). As an adult, learning a language is harder when you only know one. It would probably 'stick' after speaking it a lot though
ReplyDeleteI studied French and Latin in school, however I only associate Latin with medical & botanical terms and with different historical facts & legends.
ReplyDeleteI did the first year in Latin twice, since I changed schools. Found the history interesting. It was one of my stronger subjects, but didn't do it at A-Levels (16+)
ReplyDeletePerhaps learning Chinese will greatly enhance our grey matter!
ReplyDeleteMisanthropic Altruist and I suck at math 😂
ReplyDeleteCorina Marinescu thank you
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad story but I learn new languages in the end ;)
Misanthropic Altruist, linguistics is a soft science. I don't want to hear about gods, fairies, unicorn H2O etc.
ReplyDeleteToo late to talk about brain priapisms.
ReplyDeleteActually lateness is a form of control...in this context means - if you're looking for a cortex erection, find your dope somewhere else ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's like sanity checking each other's
ReplyDeleteThey are talking about people that can actually fluently, communicate and engage thoughts in two or more languages.
ReplyDeleteSo that's why people call me a "gray"...I guess the color does matter. xD
ReplyDeleteSo.. Does this mean that if I learn a new language, I'll get my grey matter count up?
ReplyDeleteIt's an engaging subject.
ReplyDeleteahhhhhhhh, yes, oui , Now , thank you, I finally understand that In have a pounded brain, which now bespeaks many thoughts....a brain pound.com not a compounded brain.....smiling.
ReplyDeleteCorina Marinescu yes, as I fell into the French culture after 35 years of English , the swapping back and forth in ones mind is involuntary.....well put, ms.
ReplyDeleteDear Corina Marinescu I agree with Sam Collett . Thank you, your knowledge and kindness is very well appreciated by me and, I'm sure, by everybody else.!! ☺
ReplyDeleteTy for sharing 😀
ReplyDeleteVery cool stuff. Speaking of bilingual, I was very impressed with Kobe Bryant's spanish interview regarding his retirement.
ReplyDeleteCorina Marinescu Why do kids can speak any language without an accent? My 5 year old girl is bilingual and she speaks fluently.
Puts certain things in place and a sense of order.
ReplyDeleteThanks for interesting informations, I am encouraged for being quadrilingual
ReplyDeletePentalingual here
ReplyDelete😃😃
ReplyDeleteEnglish, Mandarin Chinese, and Arabic. 😊
ReplyDeleteBeing bilingual is awesome.
ReplyDeletei am bilingual como te llamas
ReplyDeleteInteresting
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