Do different languages light up different neurons for the same concept ? Do clusters of neurons correspond to a certain thought?
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If I have learned anything in an American public education system, it’s that people process things differently, especially differently than I do. Almost everyone I went to school with only spoke English so their experiences are irrelevant, but from the few that did speak other languages, they typically think of it like a mask over the translated phrase, like the word “cabeza” was over the word “head” and to translate you just take off the masks or vice versa. For me, I always translated into concepts in between, so when someone told me a phrase in Spanish, I would parse it, understand it, then try to recreate it using English words. Now when having casual conversation, this way is usually much better, more accurate. But when translating texts, or when more literal and precise translations are needed, I often start describing things in a less precise way such as conflating the words “frozen” and “refrigerated”.
So tl;dr ELI5: for some people like me, no the same words in different languages typically run into the same neurons for the same concept, but for probably most people yes the different words are different and therefore in different places but linked. There can also be other answers that I haven’t noticed. Also I’m not a scientist or anything so my knowledge is heavily based on personal experience
Nope. We’ve got two different parts of our brain for language. One for processing kanguage and one fir speaking it. Brocca’s area is all about speaking and communicating. Wernicke’s area is all about understanding speech.
It doesn’t matter the language, sign language included, speaking “lights up” Brocca’s area while listening “lights up” Wernicke’s area.
There are a couple of different things to consider. For example, when a child learns a second language, it is easier for them to translate. With time, they take longer to articulate the meaning. Why? The different languages end up more “seperated” in neurological connections with time. Yet still use the same part of the brain. Considering how individuals with Alzheimers are able to retain memory better if they know a second language. They have more neurological connections to a meaning. Like a memory safety net of sorts.
You know how you can forget why you went to the kitchen? (Event Boundary) Next time try to say what you need to get out loud or even write it down. The act of doing so creates a secondary memory to fall back on if you forget.
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