Bilingualism And Its Impact On Cognition

Running Head: BILINGUALISM AND ITS IMPACT ON COGNITION 1

Bilingualism and Its Impact On Cognition

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BILINGUALISM AND ITS IMPACT ON COGNITION 2

As per the research conducted by Marian and Shook on cognitive advantages of being

bilingual, most individuals in the world normally speak two or more languages compared to

individuals who speak only one language. In most cases, the capacity to speak more than one

language is considered to have more advantages particularly in terms of changing our brain

structure. One of the advantages of being bilingual is that it enables one to manage conflicts,

enhance sensory processing, as well as increase decision-making functioning (Wilson, 2016, p.

67). On the other hand, the disadvantages of being bilingual are that it may cause one to have a

lower vocabulary and become slow in recalling words.

Ideally, the initial benefit of being bilingual is that those who can speak two languages

are better at managing conflicts. For instance, in case an individual sees the word RED yet, it is

written in a blue colour they will be able to quickly recognize the colour as blue than individuals

who are not bilingual (Zahodne & Manly, 2014, P. 56). Normally, for bilingual individuals the

conflict management capability reveals itself in their daily activities, for instance, while choosing

what to eat, wear, or how to react to a certain situation. Another advantage of being bilingual is

that it enhances sensory processing. Notably, when individuals who speak more than one

language hear a simple speech in a noisy place, they normally have a greater neural response

than individuals who only speak one language. This implies that bilingual individuals precisely

have more activities in their brain compared to monolingual individuals. Subsequently, being in

a position to speak more than one language enhances executive functioning. In this case, the

prefrontal cortex is regarded as the part of the brain which is in control of the executive

functioning, and particularly this region is improved in bilingual individuals. Significantly, this

implies that individuals who can speak more than one language are capable of switching between

their daily tasks and distractors (Wilson, 2016, p. 82).

BILINGUALISM AND ITS IMPACT ON COGNITION 3

One of the disadvantages of being bilingual is that it may result in having a smaller

vocabulary as well as slower memory in recalling words. In most cases, when another language

replaces the initial one, the two disadvantages are bound to happen. On the other hand, if an

individual has developed himself well in the first language and then acquires a second language,

these two disadvantages are unlikely to happen (Wilson, 2016, p. 78). As a result, although

speaking more than one language may cause these disadvantages, in case an individual learned

the second language after the first language is well developed, these disadvantages possibly

won’t occur.

Due to the fact that learning another language after developing the first language limits

the disadvantages of being bilingual, I would recommend this technique of language acquisition.

Preferably, this method of language acquisition is known as additive bilingualism (Zahodne &

Manly, 2014, P. 45). Various studies reveal that additive bilingualism generates an increase in

total cognitive capability. In this case, therefore, this implies that for an individual two learn

more than two languages, he or she must have a good cognitive capability to start with. Most

importantly, learning a second language after developing the first language considerably limits

the disadvantages brought about by being bilingual. Jim Cummins, a lecture at the University of

Toronto discovered that elementary students who were certainly fluent in English language and

were absorbed in studying a second language experienced long term cognitive advantages that

were depicted even after 40 years (Cummins, n.d., p. 67).

Notably, additive bilingualism would considerably increase cognitive functioning in a

professional setting. For instance, when you have employees who are competent at their jobs,

there is a higher chance that these employees have the cognitive capability to acquire a second

language. At the point where they get to learn a second language, their cognitive capabilities are

BILINGUALISM AND ITS IMPACT ON COGNITION 4

increased significantly (Davis, 2016, p. 43). As indicated by a research carried out by Jim

Cummins, this might have long term advantages for the overall cognitive functioning of the

employees’ (Cummins, n.d., p. 56). However, not only the employees will benefit from this

aspect, but also the company or organization they work for.

In conclusion, being bilingual or having the capacity to speak two languages has both

advantages as well as disadvantages. In most cases, the capacity to speak more than one

language is considered to have more advantages particularly in terms of changing our brain

structure. One of the advantages of being bilingual is that it enables one to manage conflicts,

enhance sensory processing, as well as increase decision-making functioning. Nevertheless, the

method of additive bilingualism helps to minimize the disadvantages entirely. In most cases,

additive bilingualism technique is applicable not only in elementally students, but also it is

applied in various professional settings. Additive bilingualism benefits not only the employees

but the organization as well.

BILINGUALISM AND ITS IMPACT ON COGNITION 5

References

Cummins, J. (n.d.). Total Immersion or Bilingual Education? Findings of International Research

on Promoting Immigrant Children’s Achievement in the Primary

School. Chancenungleichheit in der Grundschule, 45-55. doi:10.1007/978-3-531-91108-

3_4

Davis, J. M. (2016). Study Abroad: Cognitive Advantages of Being Bilingual and

Bicultural. Eye on Psi Chi Magazine, 20(2), 12-13. doi:10.24839/1092-0803.eye20.2.12

Millett, K. R. (2010). The Cognitive Effects of Bilingualism: Does Knowing Two Languages

Impact Children's Ability to Reason about Mental States.

Wilson, C. E. (2016). Bilingualism: Cultural Influences, Global Perspectives and

Advantages/Disadvantages.

ZAHODNE, L. B., & MANLY, J. J. (2014). Does bilingualism improve cognitive aging?

Commentary on Virginia Valian's target article: Bilingualism and

cognition. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 18(1), 45-46.

doi:10.1017/s1366728914000601

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