The English language on its own, is not enough to maintain a human being in health.
I am noticing in agreement now, from various sources, it being found that being bilingual can make you smarter. What I am saying with concern, is that English is not adequate for us.
English on its own – as is its habit, like an invasive plant that toxifies the soil driving out competing species – is not adequate to ensure we develop the intellectual reasoning ability that we require just to live a healthy functioning life.
To quote a paper on bilingual development also advertising a method style of language teaching cards:
“…the collective evidence from a number of recent studies suggests that the bilingual experience improves the brain’s so-called executive function — a command system that directs the attention processes that we use for planning, solving problems, and performing various other mentally demanding tasks.*
Yes. The executive functioning referred to here is precisely what I term our ‘intellectual reasoning ability’. Or, that which gives us the ability to reason – concur – analyze – determine – think with strategy – so that we may then choose the best decision for the best outcome for our life, and life as we know it – and may know it.
Can it be we are already suffering as a planet large-scale from this inadequate reasoning ability? Oh yes.
‘Chronic deficiency syndrome’ is apparent where ever English is found in its smallest vocabulary use. I find it to be very common now in Australia, England and the U.S. Only where English speakers develop themselves an extra vocabulary size, in their own time given them by financial freedom and motivation to do so, can they avoid this disorder.
On its own, the English language will not naturally develop a brain that is sufficient for a healthy, top-performance-potential reaching human life, as do the others organically. It cannot, simply by way of its structure and ad-hoc design. It is the made-up, artificial, ‘plastic’ of all the human languages.
It is the ‘meant well for the self-gain of the ruling class’, advertising, strength of rule, wealth, people and land amassed & controlled, and for economic growth purposes. It is part of an entirely artificially creative construct where people were kept divided and restricted into classes and jobs performed, and vocabularies restricted to what was required in tasks performed.
Like cigarette smoking, spraying DDT and many other such examples where we have come to think better of, it was a bad idea for our made up, thrown-together-in-haste ‘English construct’ to become so wide-spread. 😉
Seriously. It was found in schools in Australia last year – with some concern – how the English-language only Australian children were performing badly compared to the ‘migrant’ or new arrivals from other countries. I am not surprised, and I expect it.
I remind you I am also British with family there I am very fond of, and I say this in respect of all British people. I believe ‘Chronic deficiency syndrome’, in addition to all the other referenced mental and emotional illnesses in British history, already to have played a starring role in the way much of the world has been made to follow Britain down one of its own industrial drains…
Other western European countries played out some horrific parts in history also, sure enough all us French, Spanish and Portuguese speakers – where ever we are – there is a reason for it! But, I believe an enormous part of this, was to ‘out-British’ the British! To keep Britain smaller.
And so that ‘race’ to claim wealth that your neighbors were taking, just for your own survival as otherwise they would take over you too, WAS ON! “Kill or be killed.” “Steal or be stolen from.” This, my mother taught me a a child, had been the way, and what English people had been taught.
Other languages are healthier for us than English, and it is necessary for these other-language developed humans, to play a starring role now, in seeing us to a healthier and better managed planet. Take enormous well deserved pride in knowing your own country’s health maintenance history. Especially if you are from a naturally warm/hot country that led us to more of this creative development.
If you do not already have English-only as your language, but still possess your ‘home language’ – excellent! Keep the learning of English as it was designed – a ‘trade’ language – useful to have, but not sufficient on its own.
I am reminded of a joke I was told in Edinburgh Scotland that caused me to laugh and laugh 😀
Q. “What do you call someone who speaks lots of languages?” A. “Multi-lingual”
Q. “What do you can someone who can speak two languages?” A. “Bilingual”
Q. “What do you call someone who can only speak one language?” A. “English!”
Keep your home language with pride, and speak it in your home and to your youngsters. have the courtesies of your language proudly displayed on the wall or over a fire mantelpiece so visitors can comfortably fit in and show respect! 🙂
C'mon, Be a Human Already!;) 