Languages are fascinating. They are more than just a means of communication; they’re used to heal, bring joy, express ideas and showcase emotion. Languages have allowed humans to reach great heights, brought people together, and build cultures. There are around 6,500 spoken languages in the world and every single of them is unique. Some go beyond words and are very difficult to learn. For example, the Xhosa language incorporates click consonants. There are also hundreds of whistle languages that utilize whistle tones instead of words.

There are so many options out there and a lifetime to learn as many languages as you desire. While learning a language and developing proficiency is certainly pleasurable, there are several other reasons why you should consider it. One of the most important reasons to learn a new language or languages is the impact the process has on your brain.

Language and the Brain

We learn how to speak our native tongue at a very young age, while the human brain is still developing and forming connections. Every time a child learns a new word or understands meanings of sentences, a new connection forms in their brain. These connections are formed based on the language people learn. A new language requires some rewiring because you might need to learn new sounds, consonants, and ways to speak.

For example, research shows that native Japanese speakers can’t distinguish between “r” and “i” sounds because their “r” sound is different and “l” doesn’t exist in the language. When they hear “r” and “l” sounds, only one area of their brain lights up in MRI. When a native English speaker hears these sounds, two areas of the brain light up.

For a native Japanese speaker to distinguish between the sounds, they need to develop new connections in their brain, which increases the size of their brain. This is applicable to all new learning because every language has different elements. Each new language forces you to form fresh connections inside the brain, which increases the size of it. That, in turn, makes learning other things easier.

How Does Learning a New Language Benefit the Brain?

Better connections and a larger brain size have a big impact on everyday life. Many people notice an improvement in their productivity levels and their ability to retain information. Here’s a look at some of the best known and proven benefits of learning a foreign language:

•Decision Making – Decision making is a complex and stressful activity and most people don’t realize that. The brain calculates several odds, considers different scenarios, before making a decision. Research suggests bilingual and multilingual people are better equipped to understand subtleties and nuances. They have a multilayered thought process during decision making and will consider all data rationally. This leads to better decisions based on good reasoning. Monolingual people are more likely to react emotionally.

•Improved Memory – Bilingual and multilingual children perform better in tasks that involve working memory than monolingual children. People experience a marked improvement in their ability to store and process information in a short period of time.

•Better Attention Span – Those accustomed to speaking two or more languages make an automatic decision to focus on one or the other depending on the situation. This requires active focus and the ability to filter information at the same time. They’re used to this and have sharper focus or attention span than monolingual people.

•Multitasking – As people are able to switch focus on from language to another smoothly, they also have the ability to switch focus from one task to another. Bilinguals have better working memories, sharper focus, ability to filter distractions, and switch focus. All of these characteristics help with multitasking.

•Better Cognitive Ability – Studies conducted by the University of Edinburg suggests bilingual students have better reading comprehension, verbal fluency, and general intelligence. They are better students and more likely to succeed.

•Delayed Onset of Degenerative Diseases – This is one of the biggest benefits of learning a foreign language. Studies show that bilingual individuals develop degenerative diseases like dementia more than five years later than monolingual people. They are also less likely to develop it in the first place.

There’s no need to stop at one. Neurologists in Las Vegas believe that adding multiple foreign languages will only improve brain development. This skill will also open up a different carrier path for you, which is always beneficial.

Is it Too Late?

Most people learn only one language while growing up, though it isn’t uncommon for children to learn two or even three languages in some communities. It’s easier to learn while the brain is still growing and developing but that doesn’t mean it is impossible to learn later. Many people learn new languages in their twenties, thirties, forties, or even fifties. It doesn’t matter when you start learning because the benefits remain the same. You’ll still develop new connections and the brain will still grow.

It’s never too late to start learning, but starting as early as possible means you have an easier time with it. Languages aren’t difficult to learn, especially if they’re similar to your native tongue. For example, a native English speaker will have an easier time learning Spanish than they would while learning Mandarin.

Adults learn quickly through immersion and communication. People living in different countries surrounded by a different language adapt quickly. If a native English speaker lives in Germany for a year and puts in some effort, they will learn Garman quickly. A native English speaker living in America and not immersed in the environment will have a more difficult time.

Language is an exercise for the brain so it is a preventive step you can take to stall a number of degenerative diseases and brain-related problems. That doesn’t mean it is a cure and can replace treatment from a qualified neurologist. If you or a loved one experience signs of mental disorders or degeneration, contact your Las Vegas neurologist for effective treatment and therapy.