Bilingualism and Cognitive Science Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining core linguistic, cultural, and neurological terms related to bilingualism based on lecture notes.

Bilingualism

The ability to actively use two or more languages in everyday life.

Etymology of Bilingualism

Derived from the Latin words "bi" (meaning having two) and "lingua" (meaning language or tongue).

Pros of Bilingualism

Advantages including a larger total vocabulary across languages, delaying Dementia (Alzheimer's), providing brain exercise leading to better multitasking, deeper cultural connection, and better language acquisition.

Cons of Bilingualism

Disadvantages including a smaller vocabulary in each individual language, mixing up languages, an uneven mix of vocabulary, delays in early speech milestones, and experiencing a hard time in school.

Role of Parents' Home Country

Serves as an emotional and cultural anchor, dictates the heritage language, connects the individual directly to extended family (bridging generational gaps with grandparents), shapes a dual cultural identity, and provides a sense of belonging and a broader global perspective.

Speech Milestones (Sprachmeilensteine)

Developmental markers that track how a child acquires receptive language.

Language Acquisition (Spracherwerb)

The unconscious, natural process by which humans develop the capacity to perceive, understand, and use language for communication.

Heritage / Ancestral Language (Muttersprache)

A minority language (either immigrant or indigenous) learned by its speakers at home as children, and difficult to be fully developed.

Idioms (Redewendungen)

Phrases or expressions where the overall meaning cannot be understood by looking at the literal definitions of the individual words.

Cognitive Function (Kognitive Funktionen)

The brain's fundamental mental processes that govern how we acquire information, make decisions, and interact with the world.

Executive Function (Exekutive Funktionen)

The brain's "management system"; bilingual individuals show greater abilities in tasks connected to it, likely formed by recognizing different speech sounds from two languages.

Frontal Lobe (Frontallappen)

The brain's command center, responsible for executive functions; in bilinguals, it contains more white matter.

Temporal Lobe (Temporallappen)

A major region of the brain located behind the ears, near the temples; bilingualism ensures better preservation of this region.

Bilingual Brain Changes

Physical structural modifications in the brain resulting from bilingualism, characterized by more white matter in the frontal lobes and better preservation of the temporal lobe.