After my last post on learning a new language and using multiple languages, I wanted to find out more about the positive effects of learning a language. While there are multiple ways I can approach this matter, in this post I wanted to talk a little about neurological benefits, or how the learning of a new language can help the development of the brain.
According to an article from Time, people who learned a new language to the point of total fluency in thirteen months had detectable growth in their hippocampuses, the part of the brain responsible for memory and “mastery of new material” compared to people who didn’t learn a new language. There was also development in three areas of the cerebral cortex which governs higher-order reasoning. Moreover, according to linguist Sofia Sayers, processes like the constant stringing of words into sentences in a new language and the mastery of new words and phrases enhance creativity. This is the case for both people who are learning a new language and people who are fluent in and are trying to maintain the language. Based on research from the Georgetown University Medical Center in 2015, bilinguals also relatively displayed better short-term memory, problem-solving skills, and attention management. Learning a language is also closely related to the promotion of mental flexibility and adaptability.
These are just a few of the neurological enhancements seen after learning a language. Like this, learning a language is more than acquiring a new method of expressing yourself. It is a meaningful process cognitively and neurologically. In my next post, I will explain how using two or more languages can also be significant culturally.
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