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HOW DOES OUR BRAIN WORK WHEN WE TRANSLATE

By GeaSpeak Team | 2024-04-30
HOW DOES OUR BRAIN WORK WHEN WE TRANSLATE?

How does our brain enable us to switch between languages? What happens in our brains when we translate? Do translators use specific areas of the brain differently from monolingual speakers? These questions have intrigued scholars and researchers for decades, and continue to do so even today.

In this month’s article, we delve into the fascinating world of neuroscience that sheds light on the intricate mechanisms at play in our brains when we translate.

The History of Language Study in Neuroscience

The study of human language has been integral to the history of neuroscience. From ancient medical treatises to modern neuroimaging techniques, our understanding of how the brain processes language has evolved significantly.

At an early stage, observations of patients with language disorders provided crucial insights into the functioning of the human brain. Particularly, scientists focused on people with brain injuries and their resulting behavioral and cognitive impairments. Through these studies, certain linguistic faculties were found to correlate with specific brain areas, namely those injured.

Recent advancements in neuroimaging technologies, such as fMRIs, and tomographies have enabled researchers to observe brain activity in real time. What is more, these developments have facilitated the study of the human brain as it actually works in healthy subjects.

The Brain’s Translation Puzzle

To this day, understanding the neurological mechanisms underlying translation remains a challenge. So far, neuroscientists and psychologists have agreed on one point: translation does not activate a language-specific network in the brain. Rather, the task of translating involves the coordination of various cognitive and linguistic processes.

Language use and translation engage regions associated with executive functioning, verbal memory, and motor planning. Moreover, linguistic tasks involve motor cortices, which highlights the embodied nature of language processing. This vision departs from computational models that hold that cognition and language can be studied in a vacuum and focuses on the effects that perception and bodily experience have on our linguistic tasks. For instance, by uttering verbs like “kick” or “pick,” we can activate the areas of the brain’s motor cortices controlling leg or hand movement.

The results of these findings suggest that language comprehension and translation are not solely reliant on the linguistic regions of the brain. Sensorimotor processes also play a crucial role, as semantic access to meaning involves the activation of motor cortices, which facilitates the understanding of concrete concepts through embodied experiences. In fact, some studies revealed that the heightened accuracy in translation tasks is associated with an increase in the number of motor regions activated.

The Role of the Translator’s Expertise

Expertise also plays a significant role in translation. Expert translators exhibit more efficient brain activation patterns compared to non-experts, indicating a higher level of cognitive efficiency and resource allocation.

Translators vs. Bilinguals

But, what about bilinguals? Do they experience similar neural processes as professional translators?

Studies suggest that while bilinguals and professional translators both use similar cognitive processes, the intensity and specific engagement of these processes may differ. Professional translators likely engage these processes more intensively due to the regularity and complexity of their language-switching tasks.

Regarding neural processes, both bilinguals and professional translators may activate similar brain regions, such as the caudate nucleus and putamen. These regions are crucial for tasks like simultaneous interpreting and translating. However, the roles of these regions may differ during these tasks. For instance, the caudate nucleus monitors and selects the appropriate linguistic system, while the putamen regulates simultaneous processes and facilitates rapid language switching.

To conclude, the study of language processing from a neuroscientific perspective offers valuable insights into the complex interplay of cognitive processes involved in translation. By understanding how the brain processes language, we can enhance our appreciation for the complexity of translation works.