SCIENTISTS ON MULTILINGUALISM

 

The following is the text of a talk given by Dr. Suzanne Flynn to LEX members and the general public in Japan in 2010. Dr. Flynn is MIT Professor of Linguistics and Language Acquisition in the department of Linguistics and Philosophy and has been researching multilingualism for over 30 years. Thank you very much for this opportunity to speak with you today. It is a great honor to be here in Japan once again and I am very humbled by this opportunity. Being a part of LEX/Hippo always gives me a tremendous sense of renewed hope and belief in humankind and the potential for each one of us to transform our own lives and in so doing have an impact on the lives of others as...(click here to read more of Dr. Flynn's lecture.)

Neuroplasicity and Language Learning “With 19 languages and more on the way, LEX has shown an implicit belief in the vast “reserve potential” of the mind and brain. The language learning methods developed by Yo Sakakibara help build receptivity to languages in a way that produces neuroplastic changes in the brain. These changes then make additional language learning progressively easier… LEX learning methods induce neuroplastic changes that support both specific and general receptiveness to language acquisition by: “1) Increasing specific receptiveness to a particular language by recognizing and comprehending how the sounds, words, tones where applicable, sentence structure and grammar fit together to produce meaningful sound patterns in that language (this does not imply any necessity for direct study of sentence structure or other elements of grammar.) “2) Increasing general receptiveness to new languages. Additional languages become easier to learn and learning several languages at the same time has a synergistic effect because it builds more robust and complex neural circuits that support both specific and general language learning. This is why those who learn multiple languages as children find additional language learning as an adult much easier than those who brain has been wired for one language.” *Oleski, Dr. John M. “Neuroplasticity and Language Learning.” 2006.

Bilingualism and multilingualism provide cognitive benefits to adults as well as children. A study by Dr. Ellen Bialystok, York University Professor of Psychology, and colleagues found that “speaking two languages throughout one’s life appears to be associated with a delay in the onset of symptoms of dementia by four years compared to those who speak one language.”* In previous publications, Dr. Bialystok and colleagues demonstrated that bilingualism enhances attention and cognitive control in both children and older adults. *“Bilingualism has Protective Effect in Delaying Onset of Dementia by Four Years, Canadian Study Shows.” http://medicalnewstoday.com/articles/60646.php February 8, 2007 & “Delaying the Onset of Alzheimer Disease: Bilingualism as a Form of Cognitive Reserve.” Neurology, November 9, 2010.