A World of Words

Languages have provided humans with the ability to communicate with one another for thousands of years. While languages are used to express our thoughts and converse with the people around us, each language also has the ability to carry the culture of where it originated from. The particular tones and accents, as well as the special rhythm of each language paints a picture of its origins and provides a level of connection that can only be achieved through speaking that language as well.

As a multilingual individual, I find that each and every one of the languages I speak, (English, Spanish, French, and Farsi), fluently have helped me in a wide variety of situations, but mostly through helping others who are trying to communicate with the people around them. In a perfect world, a melting pot of languages and cultures creates beautiful diversity, and because of that integral need to communicate with those around us, this diversity also does its job in preventing the complacency that comes with being monolingual, or only speaking one language. Although that world does exist in other continents, our very real, current continental situation finds the idea of monolingualism to be incredibly comforting.

According to the Journal of Neurolinguistics, there is a higher number of bilingual individuals (43%), than monolingual individuals (40%), as well as a small sliver of people that are multilingual, accounting for only 17% of the world population. The percentage differences between multilingualism and monolingualism are astronomical when compared on a global scale, and reflect that billions of people are only able to communicate in a singular language. By limiting themselves to only speaking one language, they in turn are unable to fully explore what the rest of the world has to offer, and by extension what other individuals with different cultures and beliefs can do to enrich their lives, through verbal communication. In the United States, that complacency is deeply rooted in the fact that English is widely spoken, with about 78% of Americans being monolingual. Though there is no official language in the United States, English is still prevalent enough that it is entirely possible for a person to live their life without ever having to dedicate themselves to learning another language.

In contrast, this widespread monolingualism is not as usual in other countries, where it is normal to be fluent in various languages, mostly because of the need to be able to communicate with people from all over the world. That normalcy is not reflected in the U.S, where the added benefits of speaking multiple languages are viewed as more complicating factors. Many believe that a certain skill is necessary to properly learn multiple languages, and the endeavor is deemed unwarranted in a country where the only vital language is English. This assumption has led to the idea that even though young children are able to learn many languages at an accelerated pace, introducing another language too soon can cause confusion and damage to the child’s language and cognitive development. Where the propensity to switch between many languages at once is usually regarded as an impressive quality, The National Library of Medicine reports the assumption that many believe it is actually a sign of incomplete language ability. These assumptions deterring multilingualism have been proven as myth, and are actually extremely far from the truth.

Additionally, a quote from an author whose career has been focused on personal development, motivation, and inspiration,“We don’t get harmony when everybody sings the same note”, accurately reflects the importance of being open to different perspectives through the breaking of language barriers. As someone who speaks multiple languages, not only do I have the privilege of being able to communicate with people from completely different countries, but it is also extremely helpful because it allows me to be the link between others who are trying to communicate as well. Not only can I connect with people who speak the same languages as me, but I can also facilitate connections between others, and in turn allow them to explore the different perspectives each individual has to offer.

Overall, languages can be considered a main part of the foundation of our society, whether we speak one language or multiple, communication is always necessary. Whether it’s through shared glances or facial expressions, as well as hand gestures or physical contact, no matter how hard it might seem, we usually use any means necessary to express ourselves to the people around us. No matter how we communicate, the importance is in our ability to absorb different perspectives, which in turn creates cultural enrichment that is most simply facilitated through being multilingual.

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ABOUT ELAHE

Elahe Zandy is 16 years old and a 10th grade student at Centner Academy. Her interest in journalism comes from an overall love for writing and expressing her thoughts on paper, as well as just a passion for learning about what is going on in the world. Last year, she had her first experience in the competitive world of writing, since she participated in the Emmerse Essay Competition, resulting in winning a scholarship for a summer program. Being a part of the Centner Academy journalism program has been a great experience to understand all the different aspects of the profession and the importance of news. In addition to enjoying writing, Elahe spends her time playing on the Centner Academy Tennis Team and co-chairing the Field Trip Fundraising Club.