Bilingualism is the act of speaking two different languages fluently. Research from different corners of the world has proven that learning another language is advantageous to man and should be pursued.
Specifically, research has identified four ways in which learning another language can aid the individual’s development.
These are:
- Bilinguals are sharper thinkers
Researchers at the University of Chicago found that bilinguals were less biased in their decisions and sharper when making choices as to style and choice of vocabulary. They were moved to conduct research on the subject of whether bilinguals were indeed sharper thinkers than those who could only speak one language after examining the life and writing of revered Irish playwright Samuel Beckett. Though he was a native English speaker, Beckett adopted the practice of writing all his first drafts in French, because he was bilingual, before translated them to English in the later stages. He said he found that the practice enabled him to think out of the box.
The researchers found that bilinguals were also better at making more rational decisions.
- Bilinguals have better working memory
A research team at York University, Toronto, Canada, led by Ellen Bialystok found that being bilingual helps in mental processing. They discovered that bilinguals were better at switching their attention when mulit-tasking. They were also better at paying attention in general, whether the task involved was language related or not, and sifting out irrelevant information. The research found that this helped childhood academic achievement and over-all health and well-being.
- Bilinguals have more gray matter
Medical researchers say that the more gray matter we have in our brains the better, because it helps us process information we receive better. A research at the Georgetown University Medical Centre, United States, showed that bilinguals (English/Spanish) had more grey matter than those who used English/ASL (American Sign Language).