It’s been a long few years of learning languages for me over the years and I have come to slowly take a more methodical approach to language learning. This has spurred me to slowly understand the science between communications. Language is universal and there are many ways to communicate with one another. There are tones, body language and many other factors that make up the way we transfer meaning from person to the next. Great minds like to explore the backend of what is going on and the brain would of course be a key component to this. This is where we turn towards neuroscience and figure out exactly what’s going on with the brain when languages are being developed.
Early researchers have paved the way to more advanced understandings. Broca’s area is known to reside at the front lobe of the brain and is deemed as dominant and this is responsible for recognition of speech. Those suffering with damage in this area are able to cognitively produce meaning but their ability to speak in words is impacted. On the other side of the brain resides Weknicke’s area, this part of the brain is the workstation that develops language within the brain for use later. Damage (or aphasia) results in speech that does not make collective sense. So one is responsible for producing and the other, understanding.
Over time, scientists have continued to understand the brain and impact on communication functions. Currently we relate both of these areas of the brain in the left side of the brain. Humans require function of both of these and there are of course other areas that make up the brain’s language processing and production system. There are many functions that need to function for a normal level of communication to be established. This is why the brain is amazing and the feat of communication with speech is incredibly powerful. Humans also communicate in other ways too including sign language which still requires complex cognitive function.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broca%27s_area
https://www.verywellmind.com/wernickes-area-2796017
