The business interpreter and the brain

Speaking more than one language is always a benefit, whether you grew up multilingual or you work as a business interpreter. When we speak more than one language, different areas of the brain are engaged and occasionally enhanced. According to recent studies, learning a new language affects our hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Additionally, depending on the language a corporate interpreter learns, they further develop different areas of the brain due to the peculiarities of that language in practice. The following are three fun facts about the effect of language on the brain:

1. Languages aside, what is the difference between a Portuguese and a Chinese interpreter for a conference? The answer is simple, the Chinese interpreter uses both sides of the brain simultaneously when providing conference interpreting services while the Portuguese interpreter does not. In fact, it was found that in Chinese speech there are neural dynamics between the left and right sides of the brain. Naturally, the left side is responsible for language learning and processing. However, Mandarin speakers demonstrated activity in the right side as well, specifically in the region important for processing music and registering tones and pitches. Considering the same sounds can refer to different things depending on the accompanying tone, any business interpreter working to and from a tonal language is engaging both the left and right hemisphere.

2. Learning a second language slows down aging by keeping the brain fit and flexible. Scientists have found there is a correlation between cell loss in the hippocampus and dementia. Recent studies show that even after three months of intensive language training there are significant increases in the hippocampus, a structure deep inside the cortex. This means, people can exercise the brain even with eLearning translation platforms available to learn languages. For any company interpreter however, it is a daily workout!

3. On that note, in order to keep the brain fit, it’s important for a business interpreter to include physical exercise in their daily routine. In the past, research from language service companies has found exercise to increase the hippocampus among elderly patients of Alzheimer’s. As a result, this spurs memory and knowledge acquisition. Other research shows that Alzheimer’s developed at a slower pace among people who were fluent in more than one language.