Knowing 2 or more languages makes one smarter. Agree or disagree?

Question

It seems to me that people who don't have "book smarts" are more intelligent than a similar person if they speak more than one language. The "already-intelligent" seem even more so if they're bilingual or more. Just my opinion. (I speak English, but learning Spanish quickly) What are your thoughts?

Wow! You all have really taught me something. You're right, I shouldn't have used the word, "smarter." It IS more about the open-mindedness and broadened horizons that come with knowing another language. Would you believe I used to speak fluent Viet Namese as a child? Thanks to my favorite baby-sitter who refused to speak English to me.

Answer 1

Rating someones intelligence is like rating 2 or more poems. You really can' t put a number or a grade on it. Everyone has talents and strengths in other areas.

Knowing 2 or more languages opens a huge amount of opportunity for that person. Not only in the language, but in employment, friendship. It also exposes them to a different culture making them realize how similar cultures are despite the language barrier. This helps the person think more outside the box when it comes to critical thinking, because they are willing and able to see both sides more clearly.

Answer 2

Yes,from a science standpoint being multi-lingual cause new neuron pathways to open up. I think people are offended by the term smarter i think the better question is if i learn more then one language will my brain work better and yes it will. Linguists ability may not translate into being a great painter but you could be good at math. It is just what part of the brain do you use left vs. right. But i will tell you the world would be a dreary place if all the dumb artists never existed and as well if ll the Einsteins never lived. We need all people tall short smart dumb black white to make this a more interesting world. Mark twain wrote intellect with out heart is poverty. So no matter what you know if you can't see other peoples pain you might as well be a deaf mute.
I speak English, Russian and Spanish. But i am no better than my grandmother who only speaks English. I am just different not better or smarter ask my wife.

Answer 3

It's not as simple as a yes-no question... Learning a second *native* language as a child rewires the brain and makes it easier to learn other languages later in life--and to learn *in general* later in life. Whether this qualifies as "smarter" is a matter of opinion.

Learning a second language as an adult does *not* do this... But if you are somehow measuring "how much is in there" (i.e. the brain), then speaking a second language makes you "smarter" in some sense than another person who has a similar knowledge base *without* the extra language. However, that's not really a fair comparison. If you spend 250 hours learning a new language, that someone else spends those 250 hours learning something else...

Answer 4

People with book smarts can easily focus on a subject or topic in front of them and do well with it. The problem with this mindset is it usually leads to a difficulty to apply the knowledge to every day life.
"street smart" folks may not have the intelligence in the classroom but are able to uderstand a situation, get to the thick of it and solve it.
Such as learning 2 languages: Book Smarts can memorize all of the language but usually won't apply it enough to become fluent; the other will learn and know that it is not just learning [spanish for example] but know that there is different dialect in ea. country and listen to the one they want to fit in with.

Don't buy into the worldly view of intelligence! It is not the right place to end up.

Answer 5

First, do me a favor, try to think about ANYTHING without having your mind use language (i.e. thinking the words, "wow I'd like I sandwich!") It's at least 90% of the time, the average person is thinking in their language. Consequently, you may see that language greatly restricts what we think and how we think it. Learning another language not only excersizes ones mind, allows them to think about their own language differently, and allows them to learn about other cultures, but it also allows your whole thought process (based on english) to switch to a whole new foundation, consequently having the effect of being in somebody else's shoes.

Answer 6

I agree that it does indeed make you smarter. It's proven that children that are bilingual from an early age score better in academics than a child is speaks only one language, his native tongue. Very similar to learning an instrument or applying yourself very steadily in math, it forces you to be better student and use more of your brain.

Answer 7

I think smartness or intelligence is innate, but knowing more languages certainly widens a person's knowledge and experience. And because every language sees the world in a different way, knowing them tends to make you more open-minded.

Answer 8

I think it does make them smarter. My husband is Mexican and his first language is spanish. His little sister is 8 yrs. old and she's bilingual too. It's the most amazing thing i've seen. Right now i'm 7 weeks pregnant and hopefully my husband will teach our baby spanish even though he said he would teach me but so far all i know are cuss words. lol

Answer 9

Being smart is about innate ability.

I don't think knowing two languages or more (I know 4 or 5) makes you any smarter, but it sure makes you more interested and interesting--and makes some type of job hunting easier (like working in international companies), makes traveling more enjoyable, and gives you richer perspectives on life.

Answer 10

I disagree. I believe you are born with the I.Q. you will always have. Knowledge merely makes you more educated. No, I am not speaking out of any ill founded jealousies. I, myslef speak 4 languages.