Language is one of the most important things that you can learn.
It’s something that will help you communicate with others, give you a sense of identity and allow you to explore other cultures around the world.
But besides these amazing benefits, there are so many more reasons why language is important.
15 Benefits Of Language For The Community
Although people may not realize it, learning a language is an exercise for your brain that makes you smarter and more functional as you age.
It can be hard work but the results are well worth it. So what are some of those reasons why language is important?
Below we have listed some of the reasons:
1. Language Awakens Parts Of The Brain
The language you speak is important because it helps to determine how your brain develops.
Since very young children are so good at learning new languages there is something special about the way that it’s done.
Some scientists have even speculated that if babies were not so good at learning new languages, then human evolution would be very different!
2. Language Boosts Your Memory
When you learn a new language, your brain has to work a bit harder to store all of the new information.
This means that your memory is getting a fantastic workout and will be improved as a result.
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden found that learning a new language can help to delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by up to five years.
3. Language Prevents Dementia And Alzheimer’s
As we just mentioned, learning a new language has been proven to delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by up to five years.
This is because when you learn a new language, your brain is constantly active and challenged, which helps to keep it healthy and functioning well into old age.
4. Language Can Help You Make More Friends
When you know more than one language, it becomes much easier to make friends with people from all over the world.
This is because you have something in common with them and can communicate with them on a deeper level than if you only knew one language.
Related Video – How Language Shapes The Way We Think
5. Language Improves Your Grades
If you’re struggling in school, learning a new language may be just what you need to boost your grades.
This is because when you learn a new language, you are forced to learn new ways of thinking and problem-solving. All this extra brain activity will help to improve your cognitive skills overall.
6. Language Keeps Your Brain Active
As we get older, it becomes more and more important to keep our brains active and healthy.
This is because as we age, our brains tend to shrink in size and ability.
If you know another language, however, this will not be the case because you are constantly working out your brain by forcing it to store new information.
7. Language Helps You Communicate Better
When you speak more than one language, it becomes much easier for you to communicate with other people in society who only speak that language.
This is especially true if you live in a country where there are many different languages spoken daily.
8. Knowing More Than One Language Reduces Bilingualism Risk
Since young children can learn up to ten languages at once easily and effortlessly, they develop what is known as “bilingualism”, which is when someone understands but does not necessarily speak two or more languages fluently. However, this is not without its risks.
Bilingualism has been linked with several neurological and cognitive problems, such as reduced attention span, language delay, and even dyslexia.
If you want to avoid these risks, it’s best to start learning another language early on in life.
9. Language Keeps Your Mind Sharp
Just like any other muscle in your body, your brain needs to be exercised regularly to stay healthy and strong.
If you don’t use it, you lose it – and this is certainly true when it comes to your brain.
So by learning a new language, you are ensuring that your mind stays active and healthy well into old age.
10. Language Prevents Many Disease
People who speak two or more languages have been shown to have a reduced risk of suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
This is because the bilingual brain has to store information in a different way than if it were monolingual, which can help to combat these diseases.
It also helps you gain access to a whole new culture – something that many people find valuable as they get older.
11. Language Can Enhance Your Career
Whether you want a career in business, politics, or another field entirely, knowing more than one language will give you a massive advantage over those who only know their native tongue(s). Not only can speaking more than one language make it much easier for you to do business with international clients, but it can also help you get promoted faster and more easily.
12. Language Can Improve Your Memory
As we get older, we begin to lose brain cells – and this is especially true for those who only know their native tongues.
Because bilingual people have to remember two different sets of vocabulary and expressions, they tend to develop a better memory than those who only speak one language.
13. Language Will Improve Your Career Opportunities
In the current labor market, being multilingual has been shown to give you a distinct advantage over those who don’t speak another language.
This is because employers realize that they’ll be able to hire multilingual employees from all over the world – as well as those close by – to work for them.
14. Language Will Enhance Your Security
Knowing more than one language will not only help you achieve fluency, but it will also provide a huge advantage over those who only know their native tongues.
This is because bilingual speakers can pass as native speakers and understand what is being said around them – which becomes very useful if you live in an area where there are many different languages spoken daily.
However, this could prove very dangerous as well if the wrong people learn that you speak other languages!
15. Language Is Good For the Mind
Although learning another language later in life may seem difficult at first, it’s good for your brain – and this is especially true if you learn a language that is different from your native tongue.
Studies have shown that learning another language can reduce the risk of memory decline and dementia, as well as slow down other brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, tongues are separated into two categories: those where word order matters (e.g., English), and those where it doesn’t matter what order the words come in (e.g., Arabic).
Your first category is easier to master because you’re already familiar with structure – however, once you start getting more comfortable speaking your second language, gaining fluency becomes a breeze!
The Importance Of Language – Conclusion
So, there you have it! Fifteen reasons why language is so important in our lives.
Whether you’re looking to improve your career prospects, memory, or security, learning a new language can help. And the great thing about it is that you can learn any language you want – there are plenty of resources out there to help you get started.
References
- https://www.brainfacts.org/archives/2011/language-and-the-brain-what-makes-us-human
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215910X14700278
- https://www.careerprofiles.info/career-benefits-of-foreign-language.html
