The Advantages of Being Multilingual
Key Terms:
Monolingualism — The capacity to communicate in one language capably.
Bilingualism — The capacity to communicate in two languages proficiently.
Multilingualism — The capacity to communicate in numerous languages fluently.
Plurilingualism — The capacity and competence to learn more than one language, as well as the value of linguistic tolerance within individuals and countries. It is associated with intercultural competence and democratic citizenship. This term is often used to talk about language education and policy.
Bilingualism and multilingualism are frequently seen as a testament to a person’s intelligence, work ethic, and cultural education. Being bilingual is a great leg up, but monolingualism can be even more appealing. However, those believing in monolingual habitus (one country, one language) are clashing more and more frequently with these multilingual forces within their own countries in the modern context of our current continually globalizing world.
Recent studies have brought to the forefront the following elements on the pro side of the linguistic diversity spectrum:
1. Upgraded Communication Skills
Contrasted with monolingual youngsters, multilingual kids are exposed to broader social development. Multilingual kids regularly become proficient at thinking about others’ points of view, making them more viable communicators. The capacity to consider alternative perspectives is a key characteristic to working successfully with others in many contexts.
2. Heightened Language Acquisition
Infants can recognize and identify etymological sounds in the various languages present in their family before they are even able to use the languages themselves. Examination shows that monolingual infants are only able to distinguish the single language to which they are exposed to regularly, whereas multilingual children are concurrently recognizing more than one, increasing their amount and speed of brain development. The more introduction children receive in various languages, the more semantic knowledge they will be able to absorb.
3. Expanded Career Opportunities
Expression in different languages can give a multilingual candidate a preferred position over a monolingual candidate in the professional field. The worldwide business network considers the capacity to communicate in more than one language a “fundamental instrument for relationship building and budgetary achievement.” This can make it simpler to get into a new line of work and get access to higher positions and earnings.
4. Effective Multitasking
Multilingual individuals have been demonstrated to be better multitaskers due to their capacity to switch languages. As indicated by scientists in a US News article, “When a bilingual [person] communicate[s] in two languages consistently, talking in only one of these languages requires utilization of the control system to restrict obstruction from the other language and to guarantee the proceeded with the strength of the proposed language.” In simpler terms, multilinguals have the ability to perform multiple tasks and, moreover, maintain their focus on each task without interruption. These are incredible advantages to any situation.
5. Memory Improvement
Memory has a colossal influence in learning language and those who are multilingual regularly score higher in memory tests than individuals who speak just a single language. Having an incredible memory can have both intellectual and social advantages like remembering faces or recalling names and figures.
6. Increased Profits
The money-related returns of learning a new tongue change by language and work, but it almost always has a positive impact. Salary.com states that positions with pay differentials based on bilingualism for the most part pay 5–20% more every hour for bilingual representatives versus monolingual ones.
MIT financial analyst Albert Saiz found that school graduates who communicate in two languages earn on average 2% more than the individuals who don’t. This can add up significantly over time, as an article in The Economist brings up. By the end of your career, the additional income could mean an extra $67,000 in your retirement account!
So if you love to learn and want to find opportunities for career growth, put in the effort to learn another language!
Do you already know a second language? Then take the time to go from being bilingual to trilingual.
Although language-learning is not without struggle, the capacity to communicate with different groups of people has infinite possibilities.
