The Power of Language: How the Codes We Use to Think, Speak, and Live Transform Our Minds

by Viorica Marian

“Sparkles with insight.”—Daniel Pink

One of Behavioral Scientist ’s Summer Books of 2023
One of Next Big Idea Club’s "7 Books that Reveal the Wonders of Writing and Language"

This revolutionary book goes beyond any recent book on language to dissect how language operates in our minds and how to harness its virtually limitless power.

As Dr. Marian explains, while you may well think you speak only one language, in fact your mind accommodates multiple codes of communication. Some people speak Spanish, some Mandarin. Some speak poetry, some are fluent in math. The human brain is built to use multiple languages, and using more languages opens doors to creativity, brain health, and cognitive control.
 
Every new language we speak shapes how we extract and interpret information. It alters what we remember, how we perceive ourselves and the world around us, how we feel, the insights we have, the decisions we make, and the actions we take. Language is an invaluable tool for organizing, processing, and structuring information, and thereby unleashing radical advancement.
 
Learning a new language has broad lifetime consequences, and Dr. Marian reviews research showing that

·        Enhances executive function—our ability to focus on the things that matter and ignore the things that don’t.
·        Results in higher scores on creative-thinking tasks.
·        Develops critical reasoning skills.
·        Delays Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia by four to six years.
·        Improves decisions made under emotional duress.
·        Changes what we see, pay attention to, and recall.

Genres: Nonfiction, Language, Linguistics, Science, Psychology, Audiobook, Cultural

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Toni Morrison once said "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

The Power of Language is the book I’ve always wanted to read. I live my life in more than one language, as do many people around the world, but most popular science books about language are centered on monolingualism.

I wrote The Power of Language so others could dive into the fascinating minds and worlds of bilinguals and multilinguals. The book is a psycholinguistic journey into the interaction between language and mind in speakers of more than one language.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

tl;dr Probably now one of my most favorite books ever??? xD Please check it out, linguist or not. Multilingual or not. I promise you you will learn something and be amazed!

Not tl;dr:

Language is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal for processing and organizing the information from the world around us. Our perception of reality is filtered through our linguistic systems, and learning another language makes it possible to perceive the environment around us without the constraints imposed by a single language. Multilinguals are able to perceive more of the universe around them because they are able to transcend the scalar gradients imposed by a single language. Who needs mind-altering drugs when we have language(s)?

I was barely through reading the introduction when I already found myself wanting to recommend this book to everyone I knew x'D Really fantastically done from start to finish. The author not only gives a great introduction to the topic, but throughout the book, takes deeper dives into the effects of languages on the mind, body, and so much more.

Going into this book, I knew that learning languages had a positive impact on brain health (and social aspects too, like biases, bigotry, empathy, etc). But I definitely underestimated just how impactful it is. The author goes into such minute detail into a multitude of areas in which knowing multiple languages has a profound impact. From memory, decision-making, observational skills, to things like theory of mind, metacognition, disease, and so much more. From children to adults, it seems learning a second language (at minimum) can be significantly life-changing.

The first third of the book focuses more so on the internal impacts of learning and knowing more than one language. (Like I described above.)

The next section of the book deals with external factors and social aspects of language as a whole. Politics, culture, relationships, power-dynamics, etc. Touching on topics like manipulation, cultural differences, dialects, racism, sexism and gendered languages (including non-binary discussion), and other biases, schooling, immigration/immigrants, as well as a host of other topics.

And the final section of the book covers artificial languages, mathematics, and programming, touching on those aspects of lingual "code", as well as the overlap and benefits we as a society have gained from them, and the potential we could grow from here.

The author really does cover as much ground as possible. I can't express enough how fascinated I was and how interesting she made everything out to be. As someone who is learning languages myself, I connected and resonated with so much of what she said. (And laughed at various references and examples of Japanese and Russian text, two languages that I have varying levels of familiarity with.)

The author being a woman was also so impactful for me. Her description of why English was the only language she could see herself writing in was something I could very much understand and relate to. Her lamenting over the lack of representation, and subsequently societal progress, of women in various scientific fields was so important to read.

A small nit-pick, though I'm sure no fault of the author, but it would've been neat to explore less popularly known languages. The author does touch on a few, which I LOVED, but it would've been super interesting to see more from specific smaller tribal languages, even more with Asian or African languages (there are so many!!). But she could easily save so much more for a sequel. (Which I would absolutely purchase!) So really, my nit-pick comes down to wishing there was more to read! Haha.

I will briefly point out, as another reviewer did, that the language is a little more advanced than the average reader, I'd wager. But please don't let that stop you from giving this book a chance. Even for the parts you may not fully grasp, the bulk of the book is eloquently explained in a way that most readers should have no issue with.

The author ends the book with advice and words of encouragement to the reader. In embracing their native language(s), and not shying away from introducing their children to their culture. And also to monolinguals, who may feel inspired but uncertain where to start. As well as advice on how to teach your children multiple languages. Worthwhile additions, and perfect for an epilogue.

If symbolic systems are codes for our minds, and our minds are windows into the universe, then languages hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe.

This was a wonderful and beautiful book. Even if you aren't fluent or studying other languages, I'd still absolutely recommend this book. (Honestly, most especially if you are a monolingual!) This author shares so much knowledge and wisdom, it really is a gem among gems. Super grateful I was able to get a copy of this, will definitely buy a physical copy when I get the chance!

And to any fellow language learners out there: 頑張ってね！ Удачи! Good luck <3

[Art Markman · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a few books about language out there for broad audiences, but this is the first that explores the benefits of knowing more than one language. Dr. Marian is a world expert in this area and brings a comprehensive knowledge of the field to help everyone understand how knowing multiple languages affects the way we think. The book is well-written, funny, and full of insights.

[Ashley Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Power of Language was highly enjoyable to read from start to finish! Inspiring and motivating, Dr. Marian does a beautiful job of communicating scientific research findings in a way that can be understood by a wide audience. This book strikes the perfect balance of weaving together research and storytelling that will be enjoyed by those who study language science as well as those who are curious and enthusiastic about languages. With fun anecdotes, the book brilliantly explores the numerous ways language changes our thoughts, rewires our brain, and alters how we perceive the world. Reading this book has forever changed the way I think about languages and the human mind!

[emre · Rating 2 out of 5]

dil öğrenme/edinme eylemlerindeki zihinsel süreçlere dair bir kitap diye düşünerek çok heyecanlanmıştım başlangıçta ama zamanla "çok-dilli olmak öyle güzel ki, bakın bu konuda elli tane de makaleyi derledim sizin için" bayatlığında bir kitaba dönüştü.

[Cav · Rating 2 out of 5]

"To have another language is to possess another soul..."
—Attributed to Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor

I was excited to start The Power of Language. Unfortunately, the book fell far short of my expectations; for many reasons. More below. This will be a long one, so feel free to skip to the bottom for a summary.

Author Viorica Marian is a Moldovan-born American Psycholinguist, Cognitive Scientist, and Psychologist known for her research on bilingualism and multilingualism. She opens this book with the above quote.

Viorica Marian:


The book gets off to a shaky start, with an intro that was not very lively. Unfortunately, things never got better as the book progressed. I was generally just not a fan of the writing style here. I am very particular about how engaging I find a book's prose, and my reviews are always heavily weighted to reflect this criterion.

The author lays out the aim of the book:

"Psycholinguistics is a field that focuses on the relationship between mind and language. When I first started graduate school thirty years ago, I wanted to understand not only how multilinguals like me process language but also human cognitive and neural capacities and limits more generally.
This book synthesizes my own and others’ original research on language and the mind as seen through the prism of multilingualism. I wrote this book in English, my third language, while also drawing on my knowledge of Romanian and Russian, my native and second languages, as well as on the languages whose speakers I studied in my research, including American Sign Language, Cantonese, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Spanish, Thai, Ukrainian, and many others."

Also, warning bells went off early on for me, when the author uses the term "bigotry" at least 4 times in the first 15 minutes of the book. Suspiciously enough, many other bits of ideological jargon are employed by the author here that betray her partisan hand. I thought this was going to be a science book, not the preachings of an ideologue.

You know, it's nice to pick up a book about science that leaves narrative and ideology out, and sticks to reporting on the science. Sadly, this is becoming less common these days. And there is almost nothing I detest more in a book than an author inserting their half-baked shit political takes where they have no business being. I don't know why so many authors feel compelled to do this... The only plausible explanation I can come up with is that these people are ideologically possessed, and want to evangelize. People are religious creatures by nature, and some of them just can't help themselves...
[Ironically enough, I have found that it is often the people who are least tolerant of others' opinions who usually paradoxically label everyone who strays just a little outside their rigid groupthink a "bigot."]

She goes on at great length about how good it is to speak a second (or third) language. This could actually be the thesis of the book; given how often it is brought up, and how much attention is paid to it. This may be so, but many (or even most) people born in WEIRD countries are not raised by parents or others that could teach them a second language effectively when they are young. Even though I took classes in Dutch, German, and French for years, I am the farthest from fluent in any of those languages. And the older someone becomes, generally the harder it is to become properly fluent in another language, compared to when they were young. I'm guessing the average reader of this book is likely in their 30s or 40s, if not older. So, this seems a bit unrealistic for the average working-class person, trying to make ends meet and raising a family.

To her credit, the author does break down a table later on of how long it takes the average English speaker to learn a second language. However, it ranges (depending on the language) from ~600 hours, to over 2,000. Which are likely not hard and fast rules, but more generalized goalposts. I would think that true fluency (to the point of thinking in the other language) would take a lot longer, still.

Unfortunately, the author's repeated patting herself on the back for being multilingual got to be seriously irritating and downright grating as the book went on; as she reminds the reader many, many times of this throughout. She boasts that she wrote the book in her third language. Are we supposed to applaud?? This came across as arrogant and self-aggrandizing. Clearly, the author has a very high opinion of herself and her abilities. Either that, or a serious inferiority complex. THB, this really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't really care how many languages you can speak, lady...

There is also a bit of ill-informed writing in the intro of the book that implies that a translation error was the primary reason that the US dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. This is a preposterous take, as the actual decision was made to decisively end the war, while minimizing US casualties. Due to the extremely zealous and tenacious nature of the Japanese soldier, a land-based invasion of Japan proper was predicted to have an incredibly high number of casualties. Further; even after Japan had two nuclear bombs dropped on it, many in the war council still strongly opposed surrendering. It was only when Emporer Hirohito intervened and made the call himself, that it was decided. Which was much to the chagrin of some members of that same war council, who stormed the Imperial Palace, seeking to kidnap Hirohito and destroy his speech announcing the surrender. The plot ultimately failed and they were captured, and either executed or had to commit Seppuku.

And after spending almost 5 hours (~125 pages) telling the listener about the importance and power of language, she drops a bit of culturally-relativistic writing venerating "African American English," (colloquially known as "slang" or "ebonics,") and chastises anyone who would think that it is a lesser or "broken" form of the language proper. This argument is ridiculous, for many reasons; mainly that it harms and restricts the very people it is supposed to be accommodating. Senior fellow at the Hoover Institution Thomas Sowell breaks it down further in this short video.

English is the global lingua franca. It is the worldwide language of business, economy, commerce, airline pilots, and many other exchanges. Instead of viewing this through a leftist victimology lens, one should take into consideration the immense value that communicating in one tongue has provided to the world. It allows people of many different backgrounds to cooperate and grow. It has in part facilitated the current unprecedented historical rise in global standards of living and wealth. Making excuses for not being able to freely communicate with others in the global lingua franca does not help those who do so. It only hinders them, and restricts their opportunities.

She then goes off on a rant about gendered language, seemingly wanting to get rid of gendered words, to "eliminate gender stereotypes." LMAO. Yes, let's just change words, and we'll make human nature go away.
She also makes a lot of dubious and unbacked claims here, including that the gender of your name affects whether you are accepted into preschool. Good God, I almost spit out my coffee. Does the author think that girls are denied preschool admission?? This woman is ridiculous at this point...

Finally, she also goes off on another low-resolution rant where she complains about the lack of women in science. Rather than considering what many social and evolutionary psychologists have known for years - that (generally speaking) women are more interested in people, and men are more interested in things, she instead insinuates that there is a shadowy conspiracy to keep women out of science. The specific machinations of this nebulous pact are never uncovered, though. Just who exactly is keeping the women out? And how exactly are they doing this?? Are they in the room with you now??

That this low-resolution partisan is teaching impressionable young minds scares the shit out of me. It never ceases to amaze me the degree of faulty thinking employed by many who are highly academically accredited. Which brings to mind the quote, paraphrased from George Orwell: "Some ideas are so stupid, that only an intellectual could believe them..."


***********************

I did not like The Power of Language. Much of the book comes off as the rantings of the ideologically possessed. This kind of thing is sadly becoming more widespread these days, as leftist ideological creep has just about hit its tipping point in academia.
I find it particularly ironic that (IIRC) the author left the Communist Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic for a better life in the US, and has a deep understanding of Soviet-era propaganda, which included shaping language to enforce ideology - and here she is, advocating for shaping language to enforce ideology, oblivious to the glaring irony.

I would not recommend this one. Remind me to give a hard pass to anything else this author produces.
1.5 stars.

[Makmild · Rating 3 out of 5]

สนุกดี ชอบพาร์ทที่ 2 เป็นพิเศษ (บท10-11) แต่ไม่อยากเรียนภาษาเพิ่มเลย ไม่มีแรงจูงใจ อ่านจนจบก็ยังไม่จูงใจได้แต่คิด อ่า ดีจังน้า 5555555 ไม่เกี่ยวกับเนื้อหาหนังสือเลย คืออาจจะเข้าใจว่า คนอยากเรียนภาษาเพิ่มน่าจะอ่านเล่มนี้นะ จริงๆ คือไม่ต้อง 555555 เราไม่เคยอยากเรียนภาษาเพิ่มเลย (แต่ถ้าได้อิ้งมากขึ้นก็ดี อยากอ่านนสอิ้งเก่งๆ) แต่เราอัศจรรย์กับสิ่งที่เรียกว่าภาษา ซึ่งก็ต้องมานิยามว่ามันคืออะไร คือ แค่นี้ก็สนุกละ เหมือนปรัชญาเลย แต่ช่วงครึ่งแรกของนสไม่ได้พูดเรื่องนี้ 55555 เขาอธิบายความดีงามของการรู้ภาษาในแง่ผลกระทบต่อสมองและวิวัฒนการด้วย ไม่ได้วิชาการจ๋าแต่เป็นประสบการณ์ผู้เขียน+งานวิจัยต่างๆ เป็นเชิงภาษาและผลกระทบต่อปัจเจก ในส่วนที่สองจะเป็นผลกระทบต่อสังคม

ภาษาที่ว่าเนี่ย ไม่ได้จำกัดอยู่แค่ภาษามนุษย์ แต่ถ้าเรานิยามว่าภาษาคือการสื่อสาร ตัวเลข0-1, รหัส DNA, สปอร์ของเชื้อรา ก็คือภาษารูปแบบหนึ่งที่ภาษาเรายังไม่ได้ถอดรหัสความ ขนาดในร่างกาย ยังมีวิธีการสื่อสารที่เรายังไม่เข้าใจอีกมาก ช่วงนี้อ่านเล่ม behave ที่อธิบายกระบวนการในสมองควบคู่อยู่ก็แบบ อ้อ อันนี้ก็เป็นภาษารูปแบบนึง เลยรู้สึกว่า พออ่าน #พลังของภาษา จบแล้วยิ่งรู้สึก ภาษาแม่งเป็นเรื่องที่สนุกมากเลย

“อะไรมาก่อนกันแน่ ความคิดหรือภาษา”
“เราใช้ภาษาหนึ่ง (เช่น คณิตศาสตร์ที่ปัญญาประดิษฐ์ใช้) เพื่อเข้าถึงข้อมูลอีกภาษาหนึ่ง (ดีเอ็นเอที่นักพันธุศาสตร์ใช้)”
“ถ้าระบบสัญลักษณ์คือรหัสแห่งจิตใจและจิตใจเป็นหน้าต่างสู่จักรวาล ภาษาก็คือกุญแจที่จะไขปริศนาแห่งจักรวาลไว้”

[Barb Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book certainly solidified my confidence in my choice to pursue a minor in French. I was engrossed in its in-depth, research-based, charming investigation of bilingualism and multilingualism.

The book's first section focuses on how proficiency in multiple/different languages can benefit/impact people individually, featuring rich research and insight. These benefits are plentiful, ranging from improved everyday cognitive and executive function abilities to delayed onset of dementia. I was pleasantly surprised and frankly dumbfounded at a lot of the well-documented research findings, which featured helpful visual aids and provided explanations in very accessible language. I benefited greatly from the personal insights Dr. Marian provided as well as her witty analogies.

The second half of the book discussed the implications of different languages on a societal scale, from politics to group dynamics to learning to technology. I appreciated the wide scope of research that was featured as well as the motif from Dr. Marian that research on this topic has a lot of room for growth and improvement despite the interesting findings that exist already. Linguistic and cultural diversity were topics that were certainly on my radar being someone who is biracial and multilingual, but I can't emphasize enough how this book improved my knowledge of the implications of those realities for me, my family, and for society.

Overall, I gained a lot of fascinating knowledge by reading this book. I found it interesting how different 'codes' like math, poetry, and computer science can be considered languages and provide the same cognitive benefits that traditional languages (Dutch/French/Swahili) can. I also greatly enjoyed the discussions of decision-making, morality, and mental representations. Despite having been required to read this book for class, I would without a doubt recommend it to anyone for an eye-opening read. Considering that the style of writing is not overly scientific whatsoever, the level of insight reached is highly impressive and makes the reader feel like an expert in psycholinguistics by the end of the book.

[Mohammed Tulaimat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Marian’s “The Power of Language” is a striking work that really resonated with me. In it, Marian explores the impact of multilingualism and multiculturalism in two lenses. She starts by exploring how multilingualism impacts the individual mind. We see that multilingual people think differently, perceive the world differently, and as a result act differently. This, in a sort of abstract way, gives us an understanding of how the mind works generally. It shows how things are connected in the brain and what things are activated when. For example, Dr. Marian explores tests that track eye movements while looking at objects. Imagine two objects presented near each other. If a word is said that describes the first object in English, but the word for object 2 in Arabic sounds like the English word for object 1, a bilingual person in Arabic and English will look at both objects while the English monolingual will just look at object one. This shows us that the brain processes sound and tries to relate it to what it knows, indiscriminately between languages. After discussing the impact on the individual, Dr. Marian discusses the societal impact. She shows that differences in languages can create societal changes. We see how languages break off into dialects and what role they can play for different groups of people.

I found that the greatest strength of this text is that it makes very technical matters very approachable. I am no scientist, nor do I claim to be, but Dr. Marian’s work is very user-friendly. She somehow is able to explain theory, experiments, and impacts in a somewhat casual way that sounds like a conversation with a friend as opposed to an academic review of literature. I think people tend to overcomplicate matters, so it is a breath of fresh air to read Dr. Marian's work.

I think this text is best for two audiences: 1) Bilingual/Multilingual people looking to better understand themselves and 2) parents of young children. As someone who falls within the first group, I can attest to the potency of this book for bilinguals. It gave me a deeper understanding of my own internal processes. I constantly found myself relating to the phenomena described in the text. That clarity about the way my own mind work has allowed me to optimize my actions around its mechanics. This takes a very diligent approach to reading this book, but I highly recommend it to any bilinguals. As for the parents, I think this book is very crucial in understanding how your child's brain develops and how learning a new language can benefit them. This could really help parents be better parents and nurture their kids in a more holistic manner.

[Rebekah Soliman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viorica Marian’s “The Power of Language” explores the profound effect language has on our everyday lives, from the way we process emotion to how we interact with others. This thought-provoking book highlights the extensive influence of language on our cognition and social dynamics. Throughout the book, Marian masterfully intertwines countless experiments from peer-reviewed scientific journals, relatable real-life examples, and often times funny personal anecdotes to highlight the ways in which bilingualism enhances creativity, strengthens critical thinking skills, delays cognitive decline, and alters the way we see and interact with the world.

One of the most interesting aspects of this book is Marian’s exploration of the nuanced relationship between language and culture: language governs culture and culture governs language. According to Marian, the two are inseparable. She discusses how the language we speak reflects our culture’s values, norms, and belief systems, and how differences between languages can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or conflicts. Marian smoothly demonstrates this through captivating examples, like what a wedding invitation entails in the Netherlands vs Moldova, as well as other cultural comparisons. Ultimately, Marian ties it all together to emphasize the idea that knowing more than one language opens the door to multiple ways to see and understand the world. She underscores the necessity for intercultural competence and consideration in our increasingly globalized world.

This book is highly recommended to anyone interested in learning about the interplay between language and the human mind. Marian’s writing is accessible enough to where a neuroscience or linguistic background is not necessary to understand the extensive research she brings to the table. Anyone will be able to gain a deeper understanding of how language shapes our thoughts, perspectives, and interactions with the world around us. In fact, I am eagerly awaiting for this book to be translated into Arabic so I can put a copy in my parents’ stocking this year (both left their families in Egypt to come to the United States). In a world that treats accents so harshly, I would love for them to really see all the ways in which they are a step above their monolingual counterparts despite their thick accents.

[Ismet Mert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captures your attention from the opening line and reels you in for a captivating exploration of how language influences our thoughts, social interactions, and emotions. By combining linguistics, psychology, and culture, this book explores a slew of topics, including the cognitive benefits that come with knowing multiple languages, as well as the power dynamics and biases rooted in our language choices. Marian addresses how our language has the power to be both inclusive and exclusive, which can perpetuate inequality, and she urges readers to harness its potential to make positive change instead of reinforcing this inequality. She explains that readers must critically evaluate the language they use in order to dismantle stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. One alluring aspect of the book is Marian’s exploration of bilingualism and its cognitive benefits. Backed by rigorous scientific research, Marian explains that aside from exercise, knowing multiple languages is the only other way to delay cognitive decline in aging populations. On this same topic, she also illuminates how speaking multiple languages can strengthen cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills. These two insights go hand in hand and challenge the old conventional belief that bilingualism poses a disadvantage to humans by confusing them or slowing them down.

This accessible read rich with personal anecdotes, scientific reviews, and real-life examples will appeal to virtually anyone who can read; however, certain takeaways from this book, especially those previously mentioned regarding the impact language can have on perpetuating stereotypes and delaying cognitive decline, will be of great benefit to educators, policymakers, and professionals in fields like linguistics, neuroscience, and cognitive science. This book is a must-read for anyone even remotely interested in the intricacies of human communication. Whether you already have a deep understanding of language and its implications on all facets of life, or you picked this book up because the cover looked cool and you noticed your language on it, you will see the world and language in a completely different way and think twice before you speak.

[Tianna Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly engaging and interesting. Viorica Marian has a way of tying together research and anecdotes in such a way that I felt like I was simply having a conversation or listening to an engaging lecture. Reading this book I found hours falling away without even realizing. I generally don’t read very many non-fiction books, but this book may have convinced me to give it another try. In all transparency, I read this book for a class, but it has been one of my most enjoyable required readings in all of my time in school. I would recommend it to anyone.
This book is perfect for anyone who has any amount of interest in language in general. Even having taken linguistics classes before, I still found myself learning about things I’d never heard of before. Despite the fact that I had some knowledge of linguistics going into this book, I don’t think for a second that you need any previous knowledge or experience to enjoy and learn from this book. I learned just as much in this book as I would in a semester at school.
This book included fascinating discussions of the implications of language on the self as well as on society in general. This book includes topics from things that have been studied extensively and speaks on their history to subjects that have only begun being studied and hints at their fascinating future (will be looking more into otoacoustic emissions after reading this book).
One thing that’s especially powerful about this book is the author. She is an expert in her field with a number of the groundbreaking studies mentioned in the book being her own. It’s fascinating to hear the voice behind these studies and discoveries explain them in such an accessible and enjoyable way. I can’t recommend this book enough and believe that anyone, regardless of previous knowledge of linguistics or language, can both enjoy this book and learn something new.

[Angie Boyter · Rating 3 out of 5]

How learning new languages affects our minds
I have always enjoyed languages and have a scientific bent, so the subject matter of this book appealed to me very much. It was eye-opening to read the well-documented effects that language, especially knowing multiple languages, has on our brains and our minds. One particularly delightful example was that German speakers are more likely to describe bridges as “beautiful, elegant, fragile, peaceful, pretty, and slender”, whereas Spanish speakers will describe them as “big, dangerous, long, strong, sturdy, and towering”. Perhaps it won’t surprise you, therefore, to learn that in German the word for “bridge” is feminine, but in Spanish it is masculine. It was also fun to read about the topic of the author’s undergraduate honors project that compared how a bilingual person will gesture differently in one language versus another.
However, overall I had to question exactly who was the intended audience for the book . There is a LOT of reference to the parts and functions of the brain, some of it well described but some of it going above what I think would be a general reader’s understanding. There are many undefined terms that even a well-educated nonacademician would not know, like “syntagmatic responses” versus “paradigmatic responses”, “egocentric bias”, and “Flanker test”. On the other hand, the author defined a number of other better-known terms like “meta-analyses” and made a point of explaining that RNA stands for ribonucleic acid and explains the differences in the roles of RNA versus DNA, which is a rather basic concept.
So who should read this book? A general reader interested in the subject of multilingualism’s effect on the brain and the mind will find a lot to like but should be prepared for some material that is likely to be difficult to understand. Linguistic and psychology professionals will find a good compilation of research on multilingualism, with impressive footnotes, but will probably be less interested in subjects like strategies for how to approach language learning as an adult or how best to help your child learn languages.
I received an advance review copy of this book from Edelweisee and the publisher.

[Jenn Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was as good as I hoped it would be. Psycholinguistics is fascinating to me - the language that we use influences our brains in so many ways, some that you would never expect! Would absolutely recommend

[Vica Demici · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far, the highlight of my reading list of the recent years. Recommending wholeheartedly.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone with limited knowledge about multilingualism before starting this book, this was such an interesting read. Viorica Marian does a great job combining scientific studies with relevant anecdotes and a bit of humor thrown in along the way. The studies are applicable (and often done by the author herself!) and well-explained to one without detailed knowledge of the field. For example, she does a great job breaking down an experiment detailing how eye-tracking technology can reveal insight into the parallel activation of multiple languages. Essentially, both languages are activated when the word in question sounds similar to a word in both languages (and even when the word itself does not sound similar, but the translation does). This was a fascinating study, but easily digestible to the common reader.

Dr. Marian does a great job explaining the benefits that multilingualism provides. I learned that multilingualism helps develop more complex pathways in the brain which can be beneficial in reducing the effects of brain deterioration diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Additionally, the author describes how knowing multiple languages contributes to cognitive reserve, an advantage I had not heard of before.

Something that I really appreciated about this book is that Dr. Marian stresses that the best time to learn another language is now. It does not matter if you have not tried in the past or think that you are “too old” to learn another language, because there are advantages no matter when you learn another language. She does a great job giving suggestions of how to accomplish this in a variety of ways such as taking classes, using language apps, traveling, conversing with speakers of another language, and more.

I would recommend this book to anyone considering learning another language or just interested in the benefits that bi/multilingualism provides. Dr. Marian does a fantastic job walking you through a wide range of topics related to multilingualism, and you will be amazed by how much you learn at the end. Even someone with limited knowledge about bilingualism will find that this is an accessible (and interesting) read that will expand your mind to what the power of language can provide.

[FlyingBulgarian Svetli H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you. Thank you for writing this book. I have never felt more understood, seen and acknowledged than the writings of Viorica. The explanations of how a multilingual person’s brain works and how it’s different, to making connections in various languages and just the distinction between different types of bilinguals (to include me - who is a bilingual by circumstance rather than by birth) made me feel at home. Thank you. I will be supporting your research in any possible way I can, and that May include buying more of your books….

And I say this as someone who speaks 7 languages, 3 of which I call native.

[Shana Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite nonfiction books ever. Endlessly fascinating. I haven’t stopped talking about it since I picked it up.

[Tingjun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

[Eva Filoramo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book for whoever is interested in how, physically, language makes us who we are. It's not a metaphore: it's the way our brain works.
Neuroscientist and linguist expert Marian is the perfect companion in this voyage through our mind, our words, ourselves.

[Matias · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super interesting book for anyone interested in languages. Through a lot of scientific experiments and real-world examples it shows the role that language plays in our personal lives and in broader society. A lot of the focus of the book is on multilingualism, but a few chapters cover other types of "language" that I found very interesting. Overall, a great balance of science and storytelling!

[Rachel Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant and mind-changing book. Marian is an engaging, entertaining and very clear writer who gives memorable examples and wide-ranging data to show the benefits of being bilingual and multilingual. Often books like this inflate one or two insights, but this book is never dull or repetitive. It is brimming with ideas and astute observations. I could not put it down and will recommend it to everyone I know who is bilingual or raising bilingual and multilingual children.

[Veronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

that was a great motivation to continue learning languages!

the author is romanian, coming from a similar background (post-soviet country, also spoke russian, learnt english in school), so I could relate to her experience.

was nice to see a lot of mentions of ukrainian language, its difference from russian, examples of influence of language use in the current war in ukraine.

I’m not new to the psycholinguistics but still learnt a lot

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at the positive side of learning or speaking another language besides the one you might have learned from birth. The effects on one's brain by being multilingual is little understood but this book sheds some light on this concept. Well worth the time investment to read.

[Tjerk Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taal is iets dat mij al maanden fascineert; waar komen onze woorden vandaan, waarom verandert taal steeds, hoe beïnvloedt het onze manier van denken en waarnemen, waarom hebben woorden lading en bovenal, hoe kunnen woorden en klanken ons gedachten en gevoelens laten oproepen?

Mede door het laatste ben ik afgelopen maanden gestart met het schrijven van gedichten. Je moet daarbij de woorden heel gericht kiezen, met de juiste klinkers en medeklinkers en de juiste lading; net als een schilder die kleuren mengt op het palet, moet een dichter geluiden mengen om de juiste gemoedstoestand op te roepen.

Ik moest hier meer over weten, maar helaas, als ik de boekhandel binnen loop kom ik vaak maar enkele boeken tegen over taal en linguïstiek. Toch stond dit boek er tussen; het was niet helemaal wat ik zocht, maar zeker leuk als startpunt.

The Power of Language was van begin tot eind leuk om te lezen! Inspirerend en motiverend, Dr. Marian weet wetenschappelijke onderzoeksresultaten op een slimme manier over te brengen, zodat ze begrijpelijk zijn voor een breed publiek. Dit boek heeft een goede balans tussen onderzoek en verhalen, en zal zowel taalwetenschappers als taalenthousiastelingen aanspreken. het heeft leuke anekdotes, en verkent daarmee de vele manieren waarop taal onze gedachten beïnvloedt, onze hersenen herstructureert en onze perceptie van de wereld verandert.

De belangrijkste eye-opener was vooral de enorme invloed van taal op onze perceptie; taal is namelijk niet slechts een hulpmiddel voor communicatie; het vormt en beperkt onze perceptie van de werkelijkheid. De woorden die we gebruiken, bepalen hoe we de wereld begrijpen, welke keuzes we als mogelijk beschouwen en hoe we onze gedachten en verlangens vormgeven.

Neem dit voorbeeld, als één van vele: Recente onderzoeken tonen aan dat Duitstaligen een brug eerder als mooi, elegant, fragiel, vredig, mooi en slank beschouwen en Spaanstaligen beschouwen dezelfde brug eerder als groot, gevaarlijk, lang, sterk, stevig en torenhoog. Het verschil? Het woord "brug" heeft in het Duits en Spaans een ander grammaticaal geslacht. Je kan vast wel raden welke welke is op basis van de gebruikte bijvoeglijke naamwoorden.

Het is bizar dat onze keuzes en overtuigingen worden gestuurd door de taal die we spreken en de culturele en sociale context van die taal. Het tekent de kaders waarbinnen we denken en handelen, en beïnvloedt daarmee ook de mate van keuze die we werkelijk hebben in onze beslissingen. Een wijnkenner heeft bijvoorbeeld een rijke vocabulaire als het gaat om de geuren, kleuren, volheid, afdronk, etc. van de wijn te beschrijven dan niet-wijnkenners, wat ervoor zorgt dat hij veel subtieler deze verschillen kan herkennen en onthouden. En dan heb ik het niet eens over hoe reclames en politici ons taalkundig beïnvloeden om iets te kopen of te vinden.

Wat wij als realiteit waarnemen, is een hersenactiviteit. Wat we zien of horen, wordt beïnvloed door welke neuronen het meest waarschijnlijk vuren, en welke neuronen het meest waarschijnlijk vuren, hangt af van welke eerdere neuronen werden geactiveerd door onze ervaringen. Maar nu wordt het wel heel theoretisch, en begeef ik mij in het moeilijke filosofische vraagstuk over de vrije wil, en daar wil ik mijn handen nu niet aan branden.

Conclusie (lang verhaal kort): een goed boek voor iedereen die meer wil weten over taal, en de invloed ervan op jezelf en je omgeving. Tot de volgende :)

[Brooke Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Power of Language" by Viorica Marian is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration that delves deep into the intricacies of language, linguistics, and culture. With a comprehensive approach, Marian divides the book into two distinct parts, delving into the realms of the self and society, uncovering the profound influence of language on both. The first half of the book immerses readers in a richly academic journey, offering a meticulous review of the human mind and its intricate processes involved in language processing and comprehension. It goes beyond conventional understanding, shedding new light on the remarkable capabilities of the bilingual and multilingual mind. Through the masterful combination of personal anecdotes and an abundance of carefully designed experiments, Marian provides an engaging and enlightening perspective that challenges conventional wisdom. In this section, readers are introduced to groundbreaking research and intriguing insights that illuminate the wonders of language acquisition, cognition, and communication. The author skillfully weaves together scientific findings and real-life experiences, offering a wealth of knowledge that leaves readers with a deep appreciation for the complexity and versatility of human language. Transitioning seamlessly into the second half of the book, Marian takes a step back to offer a panoramic view of how language intersects with every facet of our world. With a discerning eye, she fearlessly confronts and dismantles preconceived notions that have long been rooted in discrimination and prejudice. By shining a light on these deeply ingrained biases, the author challenges readers to reconsider their own perspectives and assumptions, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and tolerant society. 

The initial part of the book was personally captivating, as it introduced an array of fascinating experiments and theories that were previously unknown to me. Among the many intriguing concepts presented, the depiction of the interconnected web associated with parallel co-activation stood out as my favorite. The profound notion that a single word can have far-reaching consequences left a lasting impression on me, and it is a concept that I will carry with me indefinitely. For individuals who possess a profound fascination with the intricate field of linguistics and its intersection with culture, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It is worth noting that familiarity with research methodologies, as well as a general understanding of linguistic and academic terminology, can greatly enhance the reading experience. Viorica Marian's writing style is remarkably engaging and ensures an enjoyable journey through the pages of this book.

[Sura Siri · Rating 4 out of 5]

หนังสือที่เป็นตำรายืนยันความแตกต่าง และข้อได้เปรียบของคนที่ใช้พหุภาษา หรือคนที่ใช้ภาษาที่สองในแบบที่สื่อสารให้เจ้าของภาษาเข้าใจได้อย่างน้อย หนึ่งภาษากับภาษาแม่ที่เป็นภาษาแรก มีงานวิจัยมากมายที่วิจัยถึงความแตกต่างระหว่างคนที่พูดภาษาแม่ภาษาเดียวกับคนที่พูดภาษาได้มากกว่าหนึ่งภาษา ผู้เขียนได้ยืนยันว่าการพัฒนาภาษาที่สองหรือสาม เป็นการพัฒนาตัวเองอย่างหนึ่งที่มีต้นทุนทางเวลาน้อยกว่าการพัฒนาความสามารถด้านอื่น รวมไปถึงการอ่านหนังสือด้วย

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This multilingual author (fluent in three languages and studied many others) shares her research on how bilingualism and multilingualism benefit brain functioning. For example, people who know at least two languages score better at executive tasks than monolinguals. It was fascinating to read that when multilingual people recall their childhood memories, they express more sentiment when they use their native language. Being an interpreter for the United Nations is not the faint of heart—I was astonished to read how they can juggle multiple languages at once in such an overwhelming environment!

The main reason for the four stars is that the section on bilingual education focuses mostly on Latinx students, especially those with parents who speak little or no English, and hardly mentions other ESL students whose first language is, say, Chinese or Korean.

As a second-generation Korean American raised in a small, conservative, and racially homogenous Midwestern town, I regrettably did not learn or speak Korean until I took Korean in college. Thus, I was hoping she would mention a little more about children of immigrants who did not learn their parents’ language, although she did say that “[i]t is much easier to adopt a lifestyle habit if it’s supported by your community, be it healthy eating, exercise, or multilingualism.” (p. 211) I agree.

[Maria João · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Nadea Tsm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resourful book.

[Nikki Kwon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Languages are powerful tools for communicating information and conveying feelings. It helps us to build a sense of community and a bridge to exchange cultures. Learning another language opens opportunities and broadens our perspective towards the world.

The book cover caught my attention because I studied languages at university. I wanted to learn how languages reflect our culture and the benefits of studying more than one language. Things I took for granted became evident why language learning is vital for our brain and building another identity. The book emphasises how bilingual or multilingual people make better decision-making skills and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. It reminded me of how language learning is important and motivated me to continue the process.

However, readers without prior knowledge would find this book complex, as it covers language change, cultural norms, and grammar.

Overall, it is a great read for anyone interested in languages. Studying a language or linguistics would be beneficial to help understand the book’s content.