Knowing a second language can have positive effects on your brain

Learning a new language can have positive impact on brain. This has been studied by the University of Edinburgh and published in Annals of Neurology. In this study, scientists found that learning a new language can create positive impact on brain even if it is taken up in adulthood. So, now you can learn French, German, Russian or any other language not just for any other benefit but for your strong memory!

This study was done on 262 people aged 11 or in their seventies. Scientists found that the reading and intelligence were strongly in the people who were bilingual. The findings of this study suggest that people who acquire a second language in their life, even if in their later stages, it may benefit them in slowing down their brain-aging process. This research raised several more questions though such as whether learning a new language can have positive effect on the cognitive decline in old age and whether fluency in language is better than just knowing it. Cognitive decline is experienced by people as they age with time. All aging people develop some amount of cognitive decline as they age in their life-time. It has been confirmed through studies that cognitive decline is due to the deterioration of the ability of thinking and reasoning. It begins as the person reaches in his mid-twenties. The process of cognitive decline includes a decline in the brain volume and some other biological changes in brain.

Therefore learning a second language is going to hold you in good stead not only in your younger days but also as you put on years behind you. 

The Death of 'comma'

Recently there was news which surprised everyone! It was about the abolition of comma. An English Professor John McWhorter of Columbia University said that comma should be made redundant as it is not necessary now. This news sparked lot of discussions among literates.It has been seen that some languages such as German language, there are fixed rules for the usage of comma unlike English, which makes an additional remorseful thought for the condition of this punctuation mark.

The history of Comma

Comma was introduced as a punctuation mark in the early 16^th century. It was used to show the specific meaning of the sentence/text, mainly for clarity of uncertainty which sometimes arise in particular contexts.

The redundancy of comma

Professor John says that the downfall of comma is the result of its inconsistency. In an interview with the ‘Slate’ magazine, he said that nobody can tell the reasons of anything which is logical and sensible. So they are just fashions and conventions which change over time.”

Many English users found comma extremely useful in splitting the sentences so they were not in favour of making it obsolete. Many authors such as Lynne Truss, the best-seller for her “Eats, Shoots and Leaves”, support the correct usage of comma in her writing about a panda. Comma has a useful existence in evading wrong titles, and clarifying misleading information. The discussion about killing of this humble punctuation symbol is still lingering; let us see, till when it awaits for its final dismissal from the English literature!

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Goa government using website translation as marketing strategy

The small emerald island, Goa received about five lakh tourists this year and in the coming season it is expected to see some more growth in the number of tourists. The government has been taking every measure to market Goa as tourist destination in the international market. In the line of such steps, the government of Goa has now decided to translate its official website into five to six foreign languages majorly focusing on Russian, Arabic and German language translations. Presently, the official website is in English and translating it in other languages will be an important step to appeal customers from different languages and culture. Moreover if Visa-on Arrival is implemented on the Dabolim airport, it will further improve the inflow of tourists here..

According to the experts, multilingual website will bring more tourists to Goa from European countries. Presently anyone can translate the official website with the help of online tools like Google translate. However, it cannot be a permanent solution as it is not sure whether the automatic translations done by such online tools are accurate or not. 

Apart from promotion of tourism, this initiative by Goa government will promote language translation services in Goa. Now-a-days many language translation agencies are operating in several cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai etc. These agencies provide qualified and native Russian, Arabic, Italian and German translators. Hence this step by government has multifaceted benefits apart from creating huge impact on tourism.