Which type of bilingual brain do you have? (And does it really matter?)

If there is one video that lives in my head rent-free it is this one from TED-Ed. The benefits of a bilingual brain by Mia Nacamulli. (I don't go into the benefits of bilingualism here so check out the full video for that part!)

The three different types of bilingual brains

Compound Bilingual

The two linguistic codes are learnt simultaneously with one concept while the individual is processing the world for the first time. (Think of a baby/young child being socialised from very early on with one or more languages).

Coordinate Bilingual

Two sets of concepts are being learned at the same time at a later age. (Think of a teenager moving to a new country with a new language, they may speak one language at school, one language at home).

Subordinate Bilingual

The learning of the secondary language is done by filtering through their already existing primary language. (Think of an adult relocating and learning a new language).

The important thing to note here is that all bilingual brains can arrive at proficiency of a language and the difference in their bilingualism may not be immediately apparent to an observer. AKA - it doesn't matter how you reach your bilingualism - your bilingualism is for you and you alone, however you get there.

So what?

The most interesting part for me is the understanding of how we acquire a language and how that affects how we communicate in it.

Let's think about the two sides of the brain. Put bluntly:

Left side of the brain - more active in the analytical and logical processes

Right side of the brain - more active in emotional and social processes

(I am not an expert on the inner workings of the brain. I know this is not an exact split but for the purpose of this explanation, that's what I'm working with).

This brings us to what is called the 'Critical period hypothesis'.

Children learn languages more easily because the plasticity of their brains lets them use both hemispheres. Their brain hasn't yet coded language into logical process. Their brain isn't thinking "Oh this is language, this is a left side process". They can move in and out of both hemispheres of the brain when acquiring the language.

In adults, by the time they come to learning another language, language is lateralised to one hemisphere (usually the left).

Therefore, learning a language as a child can mean one has a more rounded understanding of the social and emotional contexts.

Research shows that those who have learned a language as an adult have less emotional bias and a more logical approach when approaching problems in their second language than in their first language.

My thoughts

Isn't it fascinating how actually navigating different situations in our first vs our second/third/fourth can actually change our approach to the process?

I have definitely found myself coming away from certain situations in my second language asking myself questions such as "Was I a bit blunt?", "Could I have been more sensitive?". My partner has often shared that my emotional intelligence appears to be much stronger in English than it is in Spanish. On the other hand, making decisions without letting emotions drive me can happen far more effectively in Spanish.

It's another reminder for me that acquiring the language and its vocabulary and grammar is only one part of language proficiency. There is so much more underlying the very nature of our identity and personalities when it comes to communicating in a second language, especially if it is a language that has been acquired as an adult. How we develop our emotional intelligence in our second language is a vital part of building a more complete and holistic version of ourselves.

What type of bilingual brain do you have? Does this resonate with you? I'd love to hear from you.