How many languages can you speak?
Having grown up in an environment where my grandparents originate from two different cultures, I have always been able to communicate with them by learning two languages from a very young age. Now that I am older, I am fluent on both languages I grew up learning, meaning I am bilingual. This can helpful when it comes to situations like school and travelling, where I may need to use my skills to assist me, however it has lead me to question, does my bilingualism help me learn new languages quicker?
Statistics say that over 45% of the population of the world is bilingual, which has grown in recent years, which means that the world’s population must be learning new languages. From my personal opinion, I can say that I find learning new languages that are Latin based easier than most could say. However with bilingualism growing, we can see that many families are starting to keep their linguistic and cultural heritage alive by adopting new languages from a young age. Bilingualism can also serve helpful in later life, as an increasing number of professions are now looking to hire people who can speak more than one language, therefore meaning learning a new language at school or from an early age could benefit someone in their later life. If this is the case, it would explain the rise in bilingual speakers, and why schools are encouraging children to take up a language throughout their school years, alongside parents’ encouragement to learn a new language.
Studies also show that being bilingual rewires the brain, as many bilingual people subconsciously supress the need to use words or grammar from another language when speaking, which is why schools and parents encourage learning new languages. So why not pick up a handbook on how to learn Spanish on your next holiday to Spain, or try to read the French options on the menu at a French restaurant as opposed to heading straight for the English translation? The world of languages and diversity awaits!
By Prisca Romano-Stuart, Gumley House School.
