Currently I'm learning quite a few languages. I know fluent English, I can speak my mother tongue (Indonesian) to a certain extent (actually to the extent of an elementary grade schooler but whatever), I am now learning French at school and self-teaching myself Korean.
Whew, that's quite a lot.
But as it turns out, all of these languages I'm surrounded in are extremely beneficial to the brain, even if the exposure is in minimal amounts.
Learning Languages allow the mind to see past one perspective and indulge ourselves in multiple ways of thinking. They allow us to embrace new concepts and to create links between two different languages.
For example, if an English thought of lunch, they would think of sandwiches and crisps. But ask the same to an Italian (in Italian of course - 'pranzo') and they would most likely respond with pasta and meat and vegetables. However, ask and English who can speak Italian and perhaps they will respond with "sandwiches and crisps"
You see? Learning Languages MERGES our way of thinking and allows us to sympathise and understand more about others' culture. You don't need to travel halfway across the world to immerse one's self in a country's culture; all you could do instead is to learn the language of that country and you may even start thinking like a local!
And, as represented in the example of the Italian and the English, learning languages can form new concepts that monolinguists can't ever imagine.
A personal example: as an Indonesian, I eat rice for breakfast. My mother is extremely pushy when it comes to Indonesia, insisting that our home culture should be based on Indonesia's culture. I also know that rice is considered a no-no for breakfast in other places. As a result of my bilangualism, I often eat rice with sausages and eggs and milk, combining my culture and the English culture.
But whenever I say "I have rice for breakfast" people start eyeing me cautiously and weirdly ahahahaha
In addition to the benefit of having multiple perceptions on the world, bilingualism is extremely advantageous to both old and young people. According to Professor Vivian Cook at the University of Newcastle, editor of Language and Bilingual Cognition:
Amazing, no? Just so you know "theory of mind" means the ability to predict the mental states and actions of others: What does that person know? What action is s/he likely going to take? and to be able to understand that other beliefs, other people can have different perspectives and opinion on a subject.
"Dementia" on the other hand, according to google dictionary, is a mental disorder caused by a brain disease/injury, with symptoms including memory disorder, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.
tl;dr Languages can save your brain and help you become less RACIST /thumbs up/ Like the Panda MUAHAHAH
credits: Medical Xpress, Definition of 'Theory of Mind', Wikipedia
ASJSKLA Now because of this article, I have the urge to continue my studies in French and continue learning Korean. I've decided that I should reserve 15-minutes of my life to learning Korean everyday. I'll see how this goes, and apply it to French as well. Yippee-YAY!
Now that I think of it, perhaps my love for languages (yes, I do love them) has helped me to become not much of a picky eater. I can seriously eat anything and everything, spicy,sweet,salty,sour and i love trying new food from other cultures. It's so INTERESTING to know what they think is delicious and what they think are AWFUL.
For example, I remembered when I went to Hajj, there was someone distributing krupuk ( Indonesian seafood crackers) to everyone in the tent, including the non-Indonesians. When the non-Indonesians ate the krupuk they were like "BELURGH" and just gave the krupuk bag back. hahhaaha turns out they don't really like those kind of things kekekeke.
SO LET'S LEARN A LANGUAGE NOW EVERYONE! EVEN IF YOU'RE FAILING IT! (like me)
Whew, that's quite a lot.
But as it turns out, all of these languages I'm surrounded in are extremely beneficial to the brain, even if the exposure is in minimal amounts.
Learning Languages allow the mind to see past one perspective and indulge ourselves in multiple ways of thinking. They allow us to embrace new concepts and to create links between two different languages.
For example, if an English thought of lunch, they would think of sandwiches and crisps. But ask the same to an Italian (in Italian of course - 'pranzo') and they would most likely respond with pasta and meat and vegetables. However, ask and English who can speak Italian and perhaps they will respond with "sandwiches and crisps"
Both, together? Only bilinguists |D
And, as represented in the example of the Italian and the English, learning languages can form new concepts that monolinguists can't ever imagine.
A personal example: as an Indonesian, I eat rice for breakfast. My mother is extremely pushy when it comes to Indonesia, insisting that our home culture should be based on Indonesia's culture. I also know that rice is considered a no-no for breakfast in other places. As a result of my bilangualism, I often eat rice with sausages and eggs and milk, combining my culture and the English culture.
But whenever I say "I have rice for breakfast" people start eyeing me cautiously and weirdly ahahahaha
In addition to the benefit of having multiple perceptions on the world, bilingualism is extremely advantageous to both old and young people. According to Professor Vivian Cook at the University of Newcastle, editor of Language and Bilingual Cognition:
“Young children develop theory of mind earlier if they know two languages, and in older people, bilingualism can postpone the onset of dementia.”
Amazing, no? Just so you know "theory of mind" means the ability to predict the mental states and actions of others: What does that person know? What action is s/he likely going to take? and to be able to understand that other beliefs, other people can have different perspectives and opinion on a subject.
"Dementia" on the other hand, according to google dictionary, is a mental disorder caused by a brain disease/injury, with symptoms including memory disorder, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.
tl;dr Languages can save your brain and help you become less RACIST /thumbs up/ Like the Panda MUAHAHAH
Black, White,Asian AND cute. Although my bio teacher hates them
credits: Medical Xpress, Definition of 'Theory of Mind', Wikipedia
ASJSKLA Now because of this article, I have the urge to continue my studies in French and continue learning Korean. I've decided that I should reserve 15-minutes of my life to learning Korean everyday. I'll see how this goes, and apply it to French as well. Yippee-YAY!
Now that I think of it, perhaps my love for languages (yes, I do love them) has helped me to become not much of a picky eater. I can seriously eat anything and everything, spicy,sweet,salty,sour and i love trying new food from other cultures. It's so INTERESTING to know what they think is delicious and what they think are AWFUL.
Great, my stomach's rumbling now
For example, I remembered when I went to Hajj, there was someone distributing krupuk ( Indonesian seafood crackers) to everyone in the tent, including the non-Indonesians. When the non-Indonesians ate the krupuk they were like "BELURGH" and just gave the krupuk bag back. hahhaaha turns out they don't really like those kind of things kekekeke.
SO LET'S LEARN A LANGUAGE NOW EVERYONE! EVEN IF YOU'RE FAILING IT! (like me)
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