Language Ability: Measuring the Bilingual Brain's Parts

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What are the two active parts of language ability?

Writing and listening

Listening and speaking (correct)

Speaking and reading

Reading and writing

What are the three general types of bilinguals?

Compound, Coordinate, Subordinate (correct)

Monolingual, Bilingual, Multilingual

Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

Basic, Intermediate, Advanced

What is the critical period hypothesis?

The idea that bilingualism is a handicap

The notion that children learn languages more easily because of the plasticity of their developing brains (correct)

The theory that being multilingual makes one smarter

The belief that learning a second language in adulthood is impossible

What is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex responsible for?

Executive function and problem solving Signup and view all the answers

What are some advantages of being multilingual?

Higher density of grey matter, more activity in certain regions of the brain, and delayed onset of diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia Signup and view all the answers

What was the traditional view of bilingualism before the 1960s?

It was considered a handicap that slowed a child's development Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between emotional bias and second language acquisition?

Learning a second language in adulthood decreases emotional bias Signup and view all the answers

What are the two active parts of language ability?

Speaking and writing Signup and view all the answers

What are the three general types of bilinguals?

Compound, coordinate, and subordinate Signup and view all the answers

What is the critical period hypothesis?

Children learn languages more easily because the plasticity of their developing brains lets them use both hemispheres in language acquisition Signup and view all the answers

What is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex responsible for?

Executive function, problem solving, switching between tasks, and focusing while filtering out irrelevant information Signup and view all the answers

What are some advantages of being multilingual?

Higher density of the grey matter that contains most of the brain's neurons and synapses, and more activity in certain regions when engaging a second language Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between bilingualism and Alzheimer's/dementia?

Bilingualism can help delay the onset of diseases, like Alzheimer's and dementia by as much as five years Signup and view all the answers

Does bilingualism make one smarter?

No Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual

Knowing two or more languages means that the brain may look and work differently than those of monolinguals.
Language ability is typically measured in two active parts, speaking and writing, and two passive parts, listening and reading.
Most bilinguals around the world know and use their languages in varying proportions and can be classified into three general types: compound, coordinate, and subordinate bilinguals.
Recent advances in brain imaging technology have given neurolinguists a glimpse into how specific aspects of language learning affect the bilingual brain.
The critical period hypothesis suggests that children learn languages more easily because the plasticity of their developing brains lets them use both hemispheres in language acquisition.
Learning a language in childhood may give a more holistic grasp of its social and emotional contexts.
People who learned a second language in adulthood exhibit less emotional bias and a more rational approach when confronting problems in the second language than in their native one.
Being multilingual gives the brain some remarkable advantages, such as higher density of the grey matter that contains most of the brain's neurons and synapses, 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 by as much as five years.
Before the 1960s, bilingualism was considered a handicap that slowed a child's development, a view based largely on flawed studies.
A recent study showed that the effort and attention needed to switch between languages triggered more activity in, and potentially strengthened, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which plays a large role in executive function, problem solving, switching between tasks, and focusing while filtering out irrelevant information.
Bilingualism does not necessarily make one smarter, but it does make the brain more healthy, complex, and actively engaged. It's never too late to learn a second language and reap the cognitive benefits.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Discover the cognitive benefits of being bilingual with our quiz! Test your knowledge on how learning and using multiple languages can affect the brain's structure and function. Learn about the different types of bilingualism and how it can delay the onset of diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia. Challenge yourself with questions on the critical period hypothesis, emotional bias, and brain imaging technology. Join us in discovering how being multilingual can make your brain more healthy, complex, and actively engaged.