The Joy of Multilingualism

I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I spoke only one language.  And every time the same answer comes to mind: No, thank you. I believe that the more languages you speak, the more creative and balanced you are.

If you are now wondering what balance and creativity have to do with languages and language learning, here are some bullet points worth reflecting on:

·      Multilingualism is neither a state, nor a condition, it is a flow.

Learning a language is a process that takes time, effort and consistency. Maintaining a language involves all the above-mentioned elements, plus commitment. You live, you change, your life changes but the language you’ve mastered stays tout jour with you. It is like a friend that you talk to every day. Maintaining a language is akin to a life-long friendship.

·      Multilingualism is a great tool for cultural interpretation.

Since language doesn’t exist in a vacuum, learning and using it inevitably presupposes a certain familiarity (if not great connoisseurship) with another culture. Being exposed to the cultural Other constructs a great point of comparison as well as serves as a perfect tool for becoming intrinsically aware of all the subtleties and intricacies of your own culture.

·      Multilingualism fuels creativity.

Language is a creation. New words, new idioms constantly enter the universe of language. That flow combined with the process of acquiring new knowledge when trying to master a foreign tongue (i. e. learning new words, grammar etc.) translates into creation of the unexpected associations and very often transition into fascinating ideas.

·      Multilingualism fosters balance.

Learning new ways of speaking and creating a certain routine to do so gives one a certain structure – a discipline, if you wish – which is the best cure for feeling out of control, anxious or stressed. Furthermore, regular work on fine tuning your linguistic skills focuses the mind and distracts from other issues, while creating a feeling of stability, order et voilà – desired equilibrium.

The world belongs to those who enJoy it! (tr. from German©)

Thus, if you ever find yourself in doubt whether you should undertake learning German before going for a few week vacation to Deutschland, don’t hesitate. Enlarging the list of the languages you command will bestow on you a beautiful package of awareness, ingenuity, mental health benefits or, simply put – Joy!