The Benefits of Bilingualism

Do you speak Spanish? Do you speak French? Can you speak Chinese? If you answered yes and are watching this in English, chances are you are part of the world's bilingual and multilingual majority. Knowing two or more languages means that your brain may actually work differently than those who only know one language. Language ability is typically measured in speaking, writing, listening, and reading. While a balanced bilingual has near equal abilities in two languages, most bilinguals know and use their languages in varying proportions. Depending on their situation and how they acquired each language, bilinguals can be classified into three types: compound, coordinate, and subordinate. Recent advances in brain imaging technology have given neurolinguists a glimpse into how specific aspects of language learning affect the bilingual brain. It's well known that the brain's left hemisphere is more dominant and analytical in logical processes, while the right hemisphere is more active in emotional and social ones. The fact that language involves both types of functions has led to the critical period hypothesis, which suggests that children learn languages more easily because the plasticity of their developing brains lets them use both hemispheres in language acquisition. Being multilingual gives your brain some remarkable advantages, including higher density of grey matter and more activity in certain regions when engaging a second language. The heightened workout a bilingual brain receives throughout its life can also help delay the onset of diseases, like Alzheimer's and dementia. While bilingualism may not necessarily make you smarter, it does make your brain more healthy, complex, and actively engaged.