Language is a complex and unique system that allows us to communicate with others. It also allows us to express how we feel, ideas we might have, and thoughts we think. We not only communicate through words, but also through body language and facial expressions. There are approximately 6,500 different languages ​​in the world (Ethnologue, 2019). Millions of people speak more than one language, while others only know their native language. Some people are called monolingual, while others are what we call bilingual. What does it really mean to be monolingual and bilingual, and what distinguishes these categories? How can we also determine if someone is bilingual or not? How is being bilingual different from acquiring a second language? Is brain activity different in bilinguals and monolinguals? Finally, what are the advantages of being bilingual? These are all questions that I will attempt to answer in this article, and I will do so using articles and research on this topic. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay First, let's look at what it means to be monolingual and bilingual. When we refer to an individual as monolingual, it means that they are only able to speak and understand one language. On the other hand, we speak of bilingual when an individual is able to speak and understand two languages ​​fluently. However, there is a different definition of what it means to be bilingual. It mainly depends on what the individual is referring to when they hear the word bilingual. If you asked me what bilingual means, I would say that a person is able to speak two languages ​​at the same proficiency level. However, when you ask different researchers, they may give you different answers. A researcher often classifies people into different categories of bilingualism. There are five different categories of bilingualism. These categories are known as; native bilingual, simultaneous bilingual, sequential bilingual, early bilingual and late bilingual (Atagi, 2012). Native bilingual means that the individual can speak both languages ​​at the same level of native proficiency. Simultaneous bilingual, refers to a person who has learned languages ​​since birth. Sequential bilingual, on the other hand, refers to when an individual learned both languages ​​during childhood, but learned one language first, then the other. Finally, we have early and late bilinguals, distinguished by when the individual learns a second language. If the individual learns it in early or late childhood. This may have an effect on how the individual will learn a second level. An example here may reflect how Norwegian schoolchildren start learning a second language at age 6, compared to Slovenia who start learning a language at age 9 (Delvin, 2015). These Norwegian children are therefore more likely to develop a better understanding of the second language than Slovenian children. When a child learns a second language, it can have a big influence on their development, understanding and fluency of speech. Second, let's look at how a second language differs from being bilingual. Bilingual, as mentioned, means that the individual is able to speak two languages ​​at the same proficiency level. Second language refers to a person who is proficient in their native language and learning a second language, but who does not have the same level of proficiency as a native speaker of that given language. In other words, thismeans that the individual will be able to speak and understand the language, but not without making grammatical errors while speaking. Speech may be fragmented and less fluid. There is, however, a difference between second language learners and foreign language learners. When we talk about foreign language learners, we refer to these people as someone who learns the language in an educational setting. They will learn the basics of the language, like grammar and words, but they will not learn the slang and street culture of the language like those learning a second language. Second language learners also have a greater interest in the language, which they will use in an everyday setting, while foreign language learners only use it in an educational setting or while traveling. When we look at the difference in brain activity between those who are bilingual and those who are monolingual, we must first understand that humans are the only creators on earth who communicate via complex language. Other species have also communicated, but their communication and language are not comparable to ours. It is often argued that there are certain differences between those who are monolingual and those who are bilingual, and one of these differences is in the way the brain is structured and its functions. Another argument is how bilinguals understand the information they receive differently than monolinguals. When a person is bilingual, they understand information at a level where both languages ​​are activated in the brain, even if they only speak one of the languages ​​at the time. One way differences have been looked for is through imaging using an fMRI scanner. According to research carried out by Abutalebi et al. (2012), they explained how the anterior cingulate cortex is important for language monitoring and control. Further it is stated that the way we understand and use in different languages ​​depends on the proficiency. Bilinguals are also reported to perform better than monolinguals across the lifespan on non-verbal executive control tasks. One method used to measure differences between monolinguals and bilinguals in terms of linguistic and cognitive consequences was to use the Stroop effect. The Stroop effect is known as a way to measure “the power of a task-irrelevant stimulus that can capture attention.” The result of this research showed that there was a difference between monolinguals and bilinguals, but the results were not significant. The cognitive difference only showed how these two groups processed salience and automaticity differently. In other words, how they differ in terms of switching and working memory (….). The article also explained how bilinguals might differ from each other. They likely differ from each other cognitively and socially. They also differ linguistically and educationally. Another thing to mention is that when a bilingual processes information, both languages ​​are activated. It is activated when the individual reads, listens and speaks. And this is not influenced by how they speak both languages, regardless of the condition in which both languages ​​are activated. However, when using word recognition and production, one language is activated more than another. The control system used to switch between languages ​​is the same as that used for selective attention and nonverbal executive control tasks (….). What is really the difference between a bilingual brain and a monolingual brain? Let's take,.