http://www.ecosalon.com/parli_italiano_learning_new_languages_in_middle_age_can_combat_memory_loss/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:17:08 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 http://www.ecosalon.com/parli_italiano_learning_new_languages_in_middle_age_can_combat_memory_loss/comment-page-1/#comment-1727 Sara Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:32:49 +0000 http://ecosalon.com/wellness/Parli_Italiano_Learning_New_Languages_in_Middle_Age_Can_Combat_Memory_Loss#comment-1727 This is a really informative post, Luanne. My brain-building goals for next year (I like to think ahead) include getting re-fluented in Spanish and getting conversant in German. (You know, that beautiful, melodic language.) Mike, I'm just not impressed with vos Savant, though my friend John will probably have a heart attack if he reads this! :) This is a really informative post, Luanne. My brain-building goals for next year (I like to think ahead) include getting re-fluented in Spanish and getting conversant in German. (You know, that beautiful, melodic language.) Mike, I’m just not impressed with vos Savant, though my friend John will probably have a heart attack if he reads this!

]]> http://www.ecosalon.com/parli_italiano_learning_new_languages_in_middle_age_can_combat_memory_loss/comment-page-1/#comment-1726 Mike S. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:06:54 +0000 http://ecosalon.com/wellness/Parli_Italiano_Learning_New_Languages_in_Middle_Age_Can_Combat_Memory_Loss#comment-1726 You're speaking my language, Luanne. :) I've always regarded learning a new language a thorough and vigorous workout for the brain - nice to see there's evidence backing this up. But beyond the biological, language is learning a new way of *thinking*. Languages arise from cultural traditions, all different the world over, so languages are gateways into the mindsets of other cultures, not just the arts but politics, *economics, everything*. Despite this fact, there are people (such as Marilyn vos Savant in one of her books, I recall) who will claim that the clever and efficient thing to do is ignore all languages in favor of perfecting English, as it's supposedly the universal language of global business and culture. One word: dumb. You’re speaking my language, Luanne. I’ve always regarded learning a new language a thorough and vigorous workout for the brain – nice to see there’s evidence backing this up. But beyond the biological, language is learning a new way of *thinking*. Languages arise from cultural traditions, all different the world over, so languages are gateways into the mindsets of other cultures, not just the arts but politics, *economics, everything*. Despite this fact, there are people (such as Marilyn vos Savant in one of her books, I recall) who will claim that the clever and efficient thing to do is ignore all languages in favor of perfecting English, as it’s supposedly the universal language of global business and culture. One word: dumb.

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