Bilingualism, Second Language and Benefits of Being Bilingual

Language is a complex and unique system that allows us to communicate with others. It also enables us to express how we are feeling, ideas we might have, and thought that we are thinking. We don’t only communicate through words, but also through body language and facial expressions. There are approximately 6,500 different languages around the world (Ethnologue, 2019). Millions of people speak more than one language, while others only know their native language. Some people we refer to being monolingual, while others is what we call bilingual. What does it really mean to be monolingual and bilingual, and what distinguishes these categories? How do we also determine if someone is bilingual or not? How does bilingual differ from second language acquisition? Is the brain activity different in those who are bilingual compared to those who are monolingual. Lastly, what are some benefits of being bilingual? These are all questions I will try answer in this paper, and I will do so by using articles and research on this topic. 

First, let’s look at what it mean to be monolingual and bilingual. When we refer to an individual as being monolingual, it means that the he or she is only able to speak and understand one language. Bilingual, on the other hand, is when an individual is able to speak and understand two languages fluently. However, there a different definition of what it means to be bilingual. This mainly depends on what the different individual refers to when hearing the word bilingual. If you were to ask me what bilingual mean, I would say that a person is able to speak two languages at the same proficiency level. However, when you ask different researcher they might give you different answers. A researcher often categories people into different categories of bilingualism. There are five different categories of bilingualism. These categories are known as; native bilingual, simultaneous, sequential bilingual, early bilingual, and late bilingual (Atagi, 2012). Native bilingual means that the individual can speak both languages at the same native proficiency level. Simultaneous bilingual, refers to an individual who have learned the languages since birth. Sequential bilingual, on the other hand, refers to when an individual has learned both languages during childhood, but learned one language first and then the other. Finally, we have early and late bilinguals, and this is distinguished by when the individual learn a second language. If the individual learn it in early or late childhood. This can have an effect of how well the individual will learn a second level. An example here can reflect on how school children in Norway begins to learn a second language at age 6, compared to Slovenia that begins to learn a language at age 9 (Delvin, 2015). This children in Norway are therefore more likely to develop a better understanding of the second language compare to the children in Slovenia. When a child is learning a second language, can have a big influence on the development, understanding and how fluent the will speak. 

Second, let’s look at how a second language differ from being bilingual. Bilingual, as mentioned, means that the individual is able to speak two languages at the same proficiency level. Second language refers to an individual who are proficiency in its native language, and are learning a second language, but are not at the same proficiency level as a native speaker of that given language. In other words, this means that the individual will be able to speak and understand the language, but not without making grammatical errors while speaking. The speech might be broken up and not as fluent. There are, however, a difference between second language learners and a foreign language learners. 

When we talk about foreign language learners we often refers to these individuals as someone that learn the language is educational settings. They will learn the basic of the language, such as grammar and words, but they don’t learn slang and the street culture of the language as those who are second language learners. Second language learners are also more surround the language, they will use in a everyday setting, while foreign language learners only use it in educational setting or while traveling. When we are looking at the difference in brain activity between those who are bilingual compared to those who are monolingual, we first need address that humans are the only creators on earth that communicate through a complex language. Other species do also communicated, but their communication and language are not comparable to ours. 

Often it is argued that there are some differences between those who are monolingual and bilingual, and one of these differences is in how the brain is structured and its functions. Another argument is how the bilinguals comprehend the information they receive differently than those who are monolinguals. When a person is bilingual, it comprehend the information at a level, where both of the languages are activated in the brain, although it is only speaking one of the languages at the time. One way the differences have been research is through imaging by using a fMRI scanner. According to research done by Abutalebi et al. (2012), they explained how the anterior cingulate cortex is important for the monitoring and controlling of the languages. Further on it is stated that how we comprehend and use in different languages, depends on the proficiency. It is also stated that bilinguals perform better than monolinguals at all stages of the lifespan when it comes to nonverbal executive control tasks. One method that was used to measure how monolinguals and bilinguals differs in linguistic and cognitive consequences was by using the Stroop Effect. The Stroop effect is known as a way to measure “how powerful task-irrelevant stimulus can capture attention”. The result of this research showed that there were a difference between the monolinguals and bilinguals, however, the results weren’t significant. The cognitive difference only showed how these two groups processed the saliency and automaticity different. In other words, how they differ in switching and working memory (….). The article also talked about how bilinguals might differ from each other. They probably differ from each other when it comes to cognitive and social ways. They also differ in linguistic and educational ways. Another thing to mention, is that when a bilingual is processing information, both languages is activated. It is activated when the individual is reading, listening and speaking. And it is not influenced by how well they speak both languages, no matter the condition both languages is activated. However, when they are using word recognition and production, one language is more activated than another. The control system that is used to switch between the languages is the same as those who are is selective-attention and nonverbal executive-control tasks(….) . 

What is really the difference in the bilingual brain from the monolingual brain? Let’s first take a step back and look at the evolution of language. Language as changed so much over the decades. There used to be different languages between every tribe and group, and it still consist today, but just at another level. There are still tribes in different countries that holds their own an unique level, but compared to the old days, there are fewer that exist know. Language has allowed us to communicate with others from different places by connecting through a common language. There are not a specific language that is the one languages that everyone in this world know, but mandarin Chinese and English is two of the languages that most people have a connection to. However, not to get of track, languages had developed through the years, and nothing is as complex as human language. There are not one single structure of the brain that takes a part of the complexity of human languages, its rather several parts that contribute. Some recent neuroimaging research show that language is not only processed in the Wernicke’s and Broca’s area, it is processed in the entire brain. Research done by Green, relates to how our brains use the same neural structures when we comprehend different languages, but they we comprehend it is different. Structure and function is what distinguish the bilingual brain from the monolingual brain. Another research has shown that some specific brain regions are more activated in bilinguals brain when doing task related to phonology, syntax and orthography. 

There are some benefits of being bilingual compared to monolingual. Usually people learning a different language from their native language do better on standardized test (…). Another benefit is that the way bilingual is better at analyzing their environment. They are also better at multitasking and problem solving. Research has also shown that bilingual have more grey matter in their dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex is responsible for language control and other functions. Being bilingual or multilingual also benefit your judgement. Apparently an individual that is bilingual will see a case from several angle, that can be beneficial when making a decision. 

Another benefit, is the health aspect of the being bilingual. Research have shown that being bilingiual can be beneficial in the onset of dementina. According to the research the onset of dementia is on average 4 years later than those how are monolingual (…). Another study done in Italy related to alzheimers, showed that patients with alzherimers usually got it 5 years later than those who were monolingual. Yet, another study done in India, related to stroke. Showed that those stroke patients that were bilingual showed significally difference in their cognition compared to monolingual stroke patients. 

Lastly, the economic benefit of being bilingual. According to a U.S study, those who were bilingual earned on average $3,000 a year compared to those holding the same position that were monolingual (….). And according to a study done at the university of Geneva, showed that multilingual individuals contribute with $50 billion a year to the swiss economy. 

One final note to mention as well, is how being able to speak another language influence your interaction with others. While connecting to different language, you also connect and learn about other cultures, and are able to interact and communicate with individuals on different levels.