Currently, there are about 7,100 distinct languages in use throughout the world. This number is always changing as languages are being recorded, invented, or forgotten; however, knowing one or more of these possible languages has several cognitive benefits when compared to one who speaks only one language. Being able to speak, read, or write in another language has been proven to enhance brain function, such as enhanced problem-solving skills, improved memory, a wider attention span, and the ability to multitask.
One of the major cognitive skills gained through being bilingual or multilingual is increased brain functioning. Brain functioning relates to the mental skills needed for an individual to manage time, stay attentive, and switch between different tasks. Each time a person switches from one language to another, the brain uses energy to help filter out distractions and allow him or her to focus on a specific task. These are all skills imperative for academic success in school or even social interactions with peers.
Additionally, learning a new language also strengthens memory. Bilingual individuals are often more advanced at remembering and addressing directions, lists, numbers, and patterns. With learning a language comes with memorizing new vocabulary, grammar rules, and pronunciation patterns, which all exercise the brain’s memory centers. Bilingualism is also linked to the delay of diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia, counteracting an individual’s natural cognitive decline. A bilingualist’s greater cognitive reserve delays these diseases for at least four and a half years (PNAS).
More major advantages of bilingualism are problem-solving and critical thinking. Individuals who speak two or more languages tend to be more creative and better at dealing with tough situations or even solving puzzles. These individuals are so used to switching between different language barriers, enabling them to be more flexible thinkers and better at seeing scenarios from differing viewpoints. Learning another language is also said to improve one’s ability to multitask. Constantly switching between languages trains the brain to rapidly shift gears in focusing on and adapting to different environments.
Calista Nguyen (11) says, “Going from speaking English in school to Vietnamese at home every day really allows me to change mindsets quickly and think more flexibly. I think it helps me focus and understand things better in both languages.”
Other than the individual advantages, language learning also administers cultural awareness and empathy for other communities. Understanding another language often means understanding their culture, including its humor, expressions, and traditions that expand one’s view of the world. These traits are closely related to the theory of mind (the cognitive ability to understand people’s thoughts and beliefs), a key part of social cognition that strengthens how an individual interprets something and effectively responds in a specific situation. Ryan Sullivan (12) asserts, “As someone who takes Spanish here on campus, when I talk to native Spanish speakers, I feel like I am connected with them on a much more personal level. I can understand them in ways that I couldn’t in English.”
Whether it’s through taking a language class in school, practicing through apps (Duolingo), or simply conversing with a native speaker, understanding another language simultaneously enhances the brain’s operating system. Investing time to learn them has proven cognitive benefits and should be recognized and understood.
