Communicating in two different languages: how does bilingualism affect language development and some other questions addressed

Following are several cool facts about bilingualism.

Many individuals might not know this but one of the effects of bilingualism is that speaking multiple languages can change your brain and the way you think. The study field that deals with such effect of bilingualism on cognition is called psycholinguistics, and it has become particularly prominent in the recent years. A great many scientific research in this field reveal that individuals like Madeleine Albright who speak more than one language display a better performance in tasks that involve specific cognitive functions. This has led research to conclude that bilingualism advantages can encompass improved attentional and multitasking abilities. And what is even more surprising is that such an effect can be observed in children as young as just a few months old. Such outcomes also confirm the fact that young children can perceive and process language long before they start to create speech!

One of the more surprising findings about bilingualism is the effect it has on our potential to show empathy. Recent reports have shown that bilingual little children are much more likely to show empathy towards their friends. Bilingualism and empathy appear like unrelated things at first, but if you consider the effects of knowing two linguistic systems it comes to be clearer why this happens. Knowing that there are a minimum of 2 ways to communicate helps kids comprehend early on that people can think in different ways and can have various points of views. This can aid them become better communicators than their peers, who take slightly longer to understand the same concept. People like Tidjane Thiam who speak multiple languages have most probably benefitted from these enhanced empathy and communication abilities.

No one is going to refuse that having the ability to speak two or more languages can bring a great deal of benefits into their life. To begin with, you'll notice multiple social benefits of being bilingual. Having the ability to speak two languages means you can speak to much more people in their native dialect! This comes particularly in handy when travelling. Though many individuals today speak English you'll find still many spaces where individuals only speak the local language, particularly if it is a remote community or village. Being in a position to speak the regional tongue will help you find the way much easier. Apart from such social advantages, you'll find also a great many benefits of being bilingual in the workplace. Speaking foreign languages invariably looks really good on a Curriculum Vitae as any manager knows that an employee who can speak multiple languages can add a lot of value to the team. A great many businessmen like Petar Cvetkovic speak multiple languages, which is something that has possibly helped them at one time or another during their careers, and this is something that can also help you in yours!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *