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Have you ever thought about the words we use every day or where languages came from? The study of language is called linguistics and defines “language” as a structured system by which humans can communicate. As early as age two or three we start to imitate and learn about language. We learn how to listen, speak, read, and write our native language or languages that we are first surrounded by. We grasp a general acquisition of vocabulary, patterns, rules, and the skills required to proclaim our thoughts.
There are endless facts about languages in general and how they are learned and used throughout the globe. You might not be surprised to know that more than 6,500 languages are spoken in the world today and some are shared by various countries and groups, while others are extremely rare. English, Mandarin, Hindi, and Spanish are among the most popular and are the most widely used. American Sign language has its own vocabulary, grammar, word order and style and uses both hand gestures and facial expressions to communicate. There are also over 100 “artificial” languages that exist because of movies, books, and television. (Think Klingon!)
Language can include speech, gestures, and writing. Some languages require letters, some use characters, some use symbols, and some are related to each other. Unfortunately, many languages, like Yiddish, are in danger of becoming extinct. Did you know that the first language spoken in outer space was Russian?
All languages are beautiful, unique, and purposeful in their own ways; but perhaps the most important thing to note about language is that almost half the world is bilingual. To call oneself bilingual means that you can use two different languages with equal fluency and strength as well as in understanding. A mastery of more than two languages makes you multilingual.
One of the most precious skills a child can attain is the ability to learn more than one language. Sometimes this is an easily achieved goal. Many children live in homes and communities where more than one language is spoken. Sometimes they learn from traveling and they can often learn in educational settings. Many different languages are offered in schools today, starting young learners at even the preschool level. Some of the romance languages are most readily available and popular in the United States and include Spanish, Italian and French. Chinese, German and even Latin language learning are however on the rise, along with various Native American languages and dialects. (A dialect is a form of language which is specific to a social group or region.) Written and audio-visual resources along with classes are available for just about any language you are interested in.
There are many known benefits to acquiring a second language, with memory improvement at the top of the list. Becoming bilingual can also slow the process of aging by increasing your brain power. You can enhance both your memory and your level of processing and amassing data when choosing to learn a new language. Children who are advantageous enough to be or become bilingual may have an academic advantage in school and then later in life, in a competitive job market. With travel and exploration of so many places at our disposal, language can improve cultural awareness and make visiting new locations more enjoyable as well. Learning a second language is an asset and it is never too late to start the journey. The motivation and willingness to teach and/or learn language should be encouraged for both children and adults as an exciting new way to correspond and grow.
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