Negative Effects Of Bilingualism

There was a claim made which stated that bilingualism has a positive effect in cognition later in life. Basically, those who are speaking 2 or more languages may slow down cognitive decline from ageing.

Based on the article, there were more positive readings rather than the negative ones.

According to the article, bilingualism improves a person’s mental abilities and processes in relation to knowledge. Cognition was proven to be significantly better to what was expected of them.

For example in Singapore, most Singaporeans were taught 2 languages since primary schools where English is the primary language and the second language would be individual’s mother tongue. In mixed schools, students of different races would usually communicate in

This research serves to prove that a person’s intelligence which includes reading does make an impact on the aging brain which allows delay in dementia even though the second language was studied only after the age of 65 years old.

However, the article also stated that to learn 2 languages is not easy. According to Reyes (2008), balanced bilingualism is a concept that is not easily achievable; instead, bilingualism must be understood as a continuum in which language ability changes constantly in relation to the individual’s social, educational, and linguistic contexts.

Despite being said that Singapore has top performers, there are also children who are stress and some even require mental health programmes. There was an increase of 306 students in 2007 to 8,336 students in 2008 who seeks assistance from Institute of Mental Health Singapore (Singapore Democrats, 2014). Depression does take place in students in Singapore because of how the education system works which includes learning 2

So, if the definition of bilingualism in this article is defined based only on the linguistic systems, rather than a social or societal one, the results would be plainly linked to the linguistic aspect of cognitive functioning.

Despite the research given with regards to Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, is it accurate enough to apply those findings on all bilinguals? If an individual has the ability to speak 2 languages, but due to its surroundings, the second language will seldom be use. This then it does not benefit the brain after all. This is because, eventually, that person will only be concentrating on one language only. So, would it be still beneficial for the aging brain?

Putting the negative and positive pointers aside, in studies, how does a person’s brain and cognition works? Old and young people have different brain structures but it will be an advantage for both if they speak multiple languages. Learning a second language after gaining the first native language will modify the brain’s structure; specifically inferior frontal cortex (McGill University, 2013). The thickness of the brain’s inferior frontal cortex will increase while the right side will be thinner. The cortex itself is responsible in cognitive functions such as memories,