Have you ever wondered how the human brain can learn so many different languages? Some of us speak only one language, while others speak multiple. How is that possible? How does our brain learn multiple languages, and how does learning a language affect our brain?
First, there is a term when referring to the study of language acquisition and psychology; psycholinguistics. Psycholinguistics studies the behaviour and relationship between the two, and covers the cognitive process that allows us to form sentences and speak (1). Language is extremely powerful. It plays a central role in the human brain and can affect the way we perceive our surroundings and make judgements.
Major language processing happens in Broca’s area, while Wernicke’s area is associated with language development and comprehension (2). Language, as we know, can be a complex process which involves the sharing of information between both hemispheres of our brain (2). The process of fully learning a language is a long one as it involves remembering the words, learning the sounds, knowing the writing system, being familiar with grammar, and knowing how to express yourself (2). All these elements activate different parts of your brain which work together to allow you to learn a language.
You know how it’s said that children are able to learn a language easier than an adult? Well, that’s because children typically have a more flexible brain compared to an adult (3). This allows them to easily absorb new languages, like a sponge. A study showed that children who learned a second language store the information with their native language, while adults store it in a different region (2). Over time, our brains become less flexible, leading to us having a harder time learning new information (3).
But that doesn’t explain why some people - adults - pick up languages easier than others, or at least don’t have as much trouble learning a new language. A lot of times, we pick up language through the environment. If you’re constantly exposed to a certain language, it can be easier to pick it up (4). I can attest to this. Growing up, both my parents speak Cantonese, so even though I’ve never officially learned it, I naturally came to understand the language. Some people also easily learn languages because they have a good ear and are able to talk about grammar rules abstractly (4). There’s also evidence that those who are bilingual tend to learn new languages quicker, possibly because they’ve developed skills needed to switch between languages (4).
So, how does learning a language affect our brain? Mental activity - including learning a language - can shape the physical structures of our brain (5). Neurons in our brain form pathways that form the basis for learning (5). And as we’ve said before, the environment plays a big role in shaping the way our brain perceives our surroundings.
The amount of time it takes to learn a language can vary, depending on the difficulty of the language, and how much time you spend each day. If you’re multilingual, you may find yourself learning it faster than someone who is monolingual. There are many factors that affect how we learn language, and it’s still something being researched today. If you have the time, learn a new language. There are many benefits to being multilingual such as sharpening the mind, enhancing decision-making, increasing networking skills, and improving memory.
Works Cited
(1)"Psycholinguistics." ScienceDaily, www.sciencedaily.com/terms/
psycholinguistics.htm. Accessed 7 Feb. 2021.
(2)Magalhães, Raquel. "What happens to your brain when you learn a new language?"
Unbabel, 19 Feb. 2019, unbabel.com/blog/brain-language-learning/#.
Accessed 7 Feb. 2021.
(3)Wlassoff, Viatcheslav. "How Do We Learn Languages?" Brain Blogger, 29 Feb. 2016,
brainblogger.com/2016/02/29/how-do-we-learn-languages/. Accessed 7 Feb.
2021.
(4)Kolitz, Daniel. "Why Are Some People Better at Learning Multiple Languages Than
Others?" Gizmodo, G/O Media, 13 Jan. 2020, gizmodo.com/
why-are-some-people-better-at-learning-multiple-languag-1840537555.
Accessed 7 Feb. 2021.
(5)Marian, Viorica. "How Language Shapes the Brain." Psychology Today, Sussex
Publishers, 3 May 2019, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/language-and-mind/
201905/how-language-shapes-the-brain. Accessed 7 Feb. 2021.
(6)"The Benefits of Multilingualism." Mondly, ATi Studios, www.mondly.com/blog/2020/
06/09/benefits-multilingualism/. Accessed 7 Feb. 2021.
What language(s) do you speak? What language(s) would you like to learn?
I speak English primarily and the basics of Mandarin and Cantonese.
If I were to pick up a new language, I would love to learn Spanish and Korean.