Did you know that about 7,000 languages are spoken throughout the world today? According to Preply, roughly 3.3 billion individuals, or 43 percent of the global population, are bilingual.

In Africa, 33 countries recognise just one official language, while 22 have more than one. Of these 22, some 13 are bilingual and nine are multilingual.

Africa is the most linguistically diverse continent in the world. Indigenous communities, migration, colonisation, time, and trade have influenced the continent’s diversity. Africa boasts about 2,100 to 3,000 spoken languages. In Kenya, over 68 languages are spoken, with Swahili and English as the official languages. Speaking more than one language has proven to have healthy outcomes.

Bilingual education has played a crucial role in Kenya’s educational system, especially during the formative years of schooling. The language education policy in Kenya allows students’ local languages as a means of instruction, apart from English, to improve comprehension and retention of knowledge.

According to recent scientific research, speaking more than one language is good for brain growth. Learning a new language is akin to a mental workout. In the bilingual brain, all languages are constantly active. The effort of suppressing one language while speaking another, as well as the mental challenge of switching between languages regularly, helps to exercise our minds. It increases our focus, problem-solving, memory, and, as a result, creativity. Being multilingual has enormous advantages.

Regularly using and thinking in two languages might have a big impact on the brain’s health. Research by Ellen Bialystok in Toronto confirmed that being bilingual could delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia by years. Bilingual people develop a cognitive reserve that helps protect them from mental decline during ageing and illness.

Studies published in the journal Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders show that bilingual individuals recover better after a stroke. This highlights the benefits of speaking multiple languages.

Bilingualism not only enhances brain function but also keeps the brain active and adaptable to changing environments. People who regularly challenge their brains by using different languages have the potential to improve cognitive abilities and maintain brain health. Learning anything new helps build our mental reserve.

Language is broad and complex. It affects ideas and concepts, perception, and distinct sounds. In more challenging skills, greater mental resilience is required. Mastering challenging skills not only improves cognitive capacities but also increases one’s ability to overcome hurdles and endure hardship. One lesser-known behavioural effect of bilingualism is the ability to see other people’s perspectives or to understand a view from a different point of view.

Children acquire a great deal from being exposed to many languages, since it enhances their communication ability and increases their empathy for other people. Language proficiency leads to a more thorough awareness of different cultures and improves employment chances in today’s more globalised world.

Bilingual individuals are instrumental in cultural exchange. They act as bridges between different cultures and communities. Bilingualism acts as a bridge, fostering mutual respect, empathy, and understanding across linguistic divides, enhancing diplomacy and commerce.

Bilingualism can help Kenyan indigenous languages to survive and promote equality and representation in society. This preserves their cultural history and encourages a more diverse language landscape. Valuing different languages celebrates their unique histories and identities.

Learning a new language at any age can be a rewarding experience. While it may be more challenging for adults to pick up a new language, unlike children, the cognitive benefits are immense.

The brain is a complex set of neural networks. When children learn a new language, they are building new networks. When adults learn a language in their later years, they modify pre-existing networks and establish more connections. It is never too late to start learning a new language and reaping the numerous benefits that come with it.
— The writer is an Innovations Evangelist and a PhD Candidate; [email protected]