How Language is Processed- Article Review

"Bilinguals are continuously suppressing one of their languages -- subconsciously -- in order to focus and process the relevant one... And it seems the different neural patterns of a language are imprinted in our brains for ever, even if we don't speak it after we've learned it."

The CNN International Article, "How language is processed by your brain" by Mosaic Gaia Vince caught my attention because I am a native-born English speaker who is bilingual in Spanish. While one may think I grew up learning Spanish in the home, that is false. I had my own interest in becoming completely bilingual in high school and college without the help of my family. My mother was born in El Salvador, making me half-Hispanic, but she never spoke the language to me at home since my father can maybe speak ten Spanish words in total.

While I have taken Spanish classes throughout junior high, high school, three years of college and spoke the language during my internship with the Mexican Consulate in Chicago, I still have a lot of trouble switching my mind to speak. I can understand the language perfectly fine, when someone is speaking slow enough. My problem is speaking, since creating sentences in my mind with correct grammar and context can be challenging. My point is that I've been learning this language for over 9 years and still struggle, but it is great knowing that my brain is working hard and eventually I will not think about the switch that is happening inside my head.

On another note, the technology aspect is astonishing to me. Using devices to transfer brain to brain contact over the internet, possibly bypassing a language all together, could change communication as we know it and I am excited to see how this technology is developed in the future. I will keep connected and see if any technological developments are made in this area.

#bilingualism #Spanish #learningalanguage #languageandthebrain