The article I selected is “Embodiment and Emotional Memory in First vs. Second Language” by Baumeister, Foroni, Conrad, Rumiati and Winkielman. The reason why I chose to review this article is because as a Bilingual person whose native language is Spanish and second language is English I wanted to know how different my brain and memory reacts to both languages. Especially, I was hoping to find answers in the article and learn more about myself through it. I have always been curious about what happens when I meet someone who only speaks English, will the connection that I create with said person be as strong as a connection I can form with someone who speaks Spanish?. The study discussed in this article targets Spanish and English Speakers …show more content…
However, there are things that I feel more confident talking about in English rather than in Spanish, which to me is weird. This article aims to explain the relationship between feelings, words, languages and the reaction of your brain, memory and even facial muscles to interactions in two different languages, which makes me feel identified. I am also very interested in neurolinguistics and what happens to our brain when we learn new languages and this article has given me the information I was looking for.
Moving on to the article itself and the study that is being analyzed in it, the authors start by identifying native language as L1 and second language as L2. The purpose of the study was to follow up with previous researchers who have found that language and emotions are linked and that said link is solider in L1 than in L2 which has been acquired far along in life. They wanted to reflect their findings in changes in emotional memory and embodied responses when Spanish and English was being interchangeable between bilingual people. The researchers formulated two hypotheses. The first hypothesis was based on the idea that the processing of emotional words in L2 would result on less embodied simulations (Muscle resonance) that it would in L1 participants. The second hypothesis stated that L2 participants had a harder time processing and categorizing emotional words
There are both positive and negative aspects of learning a language, but people are likely to equalize two sides and try not to lose the relationships with their family and the society. Amy Tan, in “Mother Tongue” and Richard Rodriguez in “Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood” explain how they viewed their private and public languages through their experiences and how they managed these two languages and established themselves in the society. Tan initially felt ashamed of her private language and favored the public language; however, in the end she showed that she could manage the balance between the languages and finally utilized both in public. On the other hand, Rodriguez preferred his private language which made him feel comfortable;
“Learning a foreign language draws your focus to the mechanics of language: grammar, conjugations, and sentence structure”(Merritt). Before I began learning Spanish, I did not even know that conjugation was a thing, but in speaking a different language, I have had the opportunity to push myself to learn about conjugation in Spanish as well as recognize it in English. “The positive effects of learning to speak a second language can train the brain to analyze and process different linguistic structures” (9 Big Advantages). In the same way a foreign language affects one’s first language, it also creates skills that are highly beneficial to those who choose to use their brains. Benefits include: improved memory, increased attention span, improved multitasking abilities, more logical and rational thought, increased awareness of surroundings, and more. “Speaking a foreign language improves the functionality of your brain by challenging it to recognise, negotiate meaning, and communicate in different language systems” (9 Big Advantages). Consequently, these cognitive benefits translate into different aspects of one’s life such as affecting their professional life.
In his essay "Bilingual education outdated and unrealistic" Richard Rodriguez, one uses many rhetorical strategies. Rodriguez uses ethos in order to make you decide if it is right or not. He uses appeals to the audience’s emotions and finally gives his personal testimony in the examples. Rodriguez does not use personal examples, but when he does he uses a lot of imagery and emotion to create an example that is perfected. His position is based on the two sides of his childhood: his public language and his private language. Overall, His public language of a very rough English was used in the classroom at school and when he was on the streets of town. One’s private language of Spanish was used at home and bringing him a sense of safety when using it.
Having the ability to speak more than one language influences one’ life deeply. Speaking two or more languages can affect someone from being infants to old age. Bhattacharjee continues with, “The bilingual experience appears to influence the brain from infancy to old age (and there
The style and diction assist in describing the uncertainty of the English language, and make it evident that Rodriguez has a certain disdain for the language. The English language is described as calm and easy when he hears native speakers. In contrast, English is viewed as forced when the language is spoken poorly. However, Spanish is never described as forced, but rather as soothing and accepting. The characterization of Spanish as confident sets the tone of the paragraph as comforting. Rodriguez’s attitude towards the languages differs just as his characterization
To summarize Dr. Bloom’s article, language and emotion are related in complex ways in the process of development. A child’s language is created by the conditions and circumstances going on in that child’s world at that moment. A child’s feelings and emotions are centered on the personal and physical world and determine the significance of language for learning. Children use words that have different feelings. Though, children typically don’t use emotional descriptive words until language development is underway, around two years of age. Dr. Bloom’s study of children nine months to two and half years of age showed the development in emotion and language from a child’s first word to speaking in sentences. While children achieved simple sentence structure at the age of two, still the children of the study differed in their ages of emotional achievement. When time
How does our native language affect we think about the world and our place in it? How is speaking more than one language difficult? Tom Munnecke’s purpose was talking about how learning many languages frustrated him, and how each language frustrated him. Each of these languages he saw as “shells,” and he goes on to talk about each language and its limitations and/or opportunities. The audience for Nothing is Missing are people who are interested in learning one, or more than one, different language. This article could also apply to people who are already bilingual, or already know multiple languages. Munecke would like people who are interested in learning more than one language to know how the first language we speak affects the way we
Language is defined as a system for the expression of thoughts and feelings by the use of spoken words (dictionary.com). We hear our first language before we are born. We enter the world with the ability to be comforted by the sounds we came to understand before we came out of our mother’s womb. As we grow, we use our words to express who we are becoming as an individual. We may use the same words as others, but the style of speaking we use is one that we develop over time, and is specific to us. Our language is a part of who we are and can separate us as individuals. It is a part of our personal identity. Knowing who we are also means knowing where we come from and having a connection to our heritage. In the first chapter of Richard Rodriguez’s Hunger of Memory, he begins to tell the story of his decision to give up his native tongue of Spanish and begin to assimilate to American culture, with the belief he can be more successful speaking English. He argues that it is best for the student in the long run to be fully immersed with the English language, and does not believe that bilingual education, in which non-English speaking students are taught English language courses together with other subjects in their native language, is beneficial.
In this article, the researchers employed usage-based theories in their study in order to examine the language development of bilingual children. The purpose of their study was to investigate the various factors that affect vocabulary and story recall abilities of bilingual children in both of their languages. The researchers targeted the following factors: the children’s exposure to their two language (determined by the length of time that the children lived in the United States), the age at which the children were communicated with regularly in English, the language(s) currently used by mothers, fathers, and teachers
As Canada is a multicultural nation, many of its residents speak more than one language. There is much research that addresses bilingualism. Yet, not many consider the relationship between bilinguals and emotions. The purpose of this study is to observe the correlation between Korean-English bilinguals and their emotional attachment in the first (L1) and second language (L2). As the literature states that the two main variables which affect one’s emotion and their choice of language are age of second language acquisition and socio-cultural norms. A correlation study was carried out towards 119 Korean-English bilinguals aged from 18 to 29 years old who reside in Canada. The data were collected through self-report online questionnaire with convenience
In the beginning I talked about wanting to understand how when newborns develop their cognitive learning development of two different languages as they got older for example attending a bilingual Preschool, would they be able to continue with their development of learning both English and Spanish and be able to grow and become experienced in both languages and be able to transition from their first language they may use at home and their second language they may use at school. Now that we got to take a look at two studies that wanted to know if children from low income families either attending a bilingual preschool or a stay at home, are able to grow in both English and Spanish language. In those two studies they had many things in common
Recall back to the memory when I had a Spanish-speaking host family. The parents only speak English to their children who are a ten-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl. However, when they called them “baby”, they use the word “mi ha” or “mi ho” which means “baby” in Spanish. The language and personality are significantly relevant to the multilingual, because changing language actually change their emotions and feelings. Using the English word “baby” is not intimate enough for them to show their love to their kin, but having them use the Spanish word has an entirely different effect. Indeed, the scientific research conducted by Katarzyna Ozanska-Ponikwai pointed out that emotions, personality, culture and language are related.
Mårtensson, J., Eriksson, J., Bodammer, N. C., Lindgren, M., Johansson, M., Nyberg, L., & Lövdén, M. (2012). Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning. NeuroImage, 63(1), 240-244.
No matter where you are in the world, you are taught about language. Whether it’s in your home learning your language or in school trying to learn a foreign language. Although while learning language the notion is never really thought about or brought up that the language and way we speak can influence the way we think and interact. Phycologist and neuroscientist alike have spent years, with multiple different tests to see if there is a connection between the various languages that are spoken and the way people not only think but also how they go about their daily lives. She writes to not only her colleagues and neuroscientists but also to anyone in the general public that is genuinely interested in the connection between
In early childhood, the use of languages explodes, and children show a rapid growth of vocabulary and an increase in vocalized expressions. As children learn to speak, they often learn when engaging in monologues and pragmatics. Although learning a language is an incredibly complex task, young children have little difficulty learning two languages. Parents have an important role in guiding a young child in developing a language. Knowing a second language may be troublesome due to the vast expansion of vocabulary, using correct pronunciation, and a difference in contexts. However; through past studies bilingualism has demonstrated an advantage in children’s executive functions and emotional behavior. In addition, memory advantages have been demonstrated in adults who know more than one language. This essay will focus on diverse methods bilingual’s experience in different stages in their life, along with some