The Art of Linguistics and Science of the Brain

//Science and Linguistics//

Picking up a new language hasn’t been an easy task, I have studied a few languages over the course of my academic life and learning a new language in my own time has required drive and motivation. Aside from being disciplined enough to learn new phrases, languages have nuances that require attention and the many polyglots that have developed relative fluency in multiple languages have connected their brains to specific methodologies that approach linguistics with a logical framework. I wanted to take a deeper look at research around language learning, it’s a fascinating subject and knowing more about the science will most likely enrich my own plans moving forwards.

//Cerebral Responsibility//

Building blocks of learning a new language start from the most basic sounds and words. As an adult learning a new language, our brains are thought to use specific regions of the brains for learning languages. Research (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190508093716.htm) shows that both the left and right regions of the cerebral cortex have a role in language learning. From the very start, the right side of the brain was observed to be the part of the brain that would support successful language intake over time. The research details the importance of the buildings blocks as I’ve mentioned, especially with respect to phonetics. This is especially true for languages that rely on phonetic tones. MRI scans revealed that significant use of the right side of the brain was responsible for early tone recognition.

//Train Your Brain//

While this piece of research doesn’t indicate much in the way of altering my language plans for the moment, it does reveal that successful learners start from the basics and the right side of the brain is the early driver out of the gates when being exposed to a new language. Future linguistic learning techniques will likely emerge as additional data is collected around brain activity, linguistics and performance against a uniform standard. It makes me realise that aside from having a sufficient plan to approaching language learning, knowledge of how our own brains work is important. Preparing the brain for learning is a task too and there are many brain training games that can activate different regions of the brain. Training the brain in tandem with studies such as language may yield better results and it takes me back to my time in college where life was very much teaching oneself how to study.

Sources

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190508093716.htm