This book explores language from a bilingual and multilingual perspective. Divided into two sections, Self and Society, it begins by examining the differences between multilingual and monolingual minds, looking at topics such as information processing, creativity, and emotional expression. In the second part, the author broadens the discussion to consider the societal impact of speaking multiple languages and argues that multilingualism can contribute to a more open and connected world. There are a few repetitions throughout the book, and nearly every chapter concludes by highlighting the “superpowers” of multilingual speakers. Nevertheless, I found it fascinating. It introduced me to many ideas and research findings that were completely new to me and sent me down several rabbit holes in search of more information. By the end, I was left with only one question: which language should I learn next?
“Did you know that a jiffy is an actual unit of time equivalent to one hundredth of a second? The etymology of various words Across languages is fascinating. Etymology refers to the study of the origins of words and the ways in which their meanings change over time (not to be confused with entomology, which is the science of insects – as the nerdy joke goes, people who can’t distinguish between etymology and entomology bug linguists in ways they cannot put into words).“