The Benefits of Multilingualism
多语能力的好处
Multilingualism is good for the economy, researchers have found.Countries that actively nurture（培养） different languages reap a range of rewards, from more successful exports to a more innovative workforce.
那些积极培养多语种人才的国家收获到了许多益处，从更加成功的商品出口到更具创新力的人力资源。研究者发现，多语能力有利于经济发展。
"Language matters on a large-scale national level and at the level of smaller businesses,"says Gabrielle, a research fellow in Language Studies at the University of Bristol, citing data that links economic growth to linguistic（语言的） diversity.
“从宏观的国家层面到微观的商业层面，语言都很重要。”布里斯托大学语言研究中心的研究员加布里埃尔如是说。她引用了经济发展与语言多样性的相关性数据。
Switzerland, for example, attributes 10% of its GDP to its multilingual heritage.The country has four national languages: German, French, Italian and an ancient Latin-based language called Romansh.
比如，在瑞士，多语种这一传统对GDP增长的贡献率达到了10%。瑞士有四种官方语言：德语、法语、意大利语以及罗曼什语这种基于拉丁语的古老语言。
Britain, on the other hand, is estimated（估计） to lose out on the equivalent of 3.5% of its GDP every year, because of its population's relatively poor language skills.This may be partly because languages can help build trade relations.
然而，据估计，英国每年因为国民较差的语言技能所导致的经济损失基本相当于GDP的3.5%。部分原因可能是多语能力可以帮助建立外贸联系。
A study of small and medium-size companies in Sweden, Germany, Denmark and France found that those which invested more in languages were able to export more goods.
一项研究发现，在瑞典、德国、丹麦和法国的中小企业中，那些在语言上投入越多的企业，他们的商品也就出口得越多。
German companies that invested heavily in multilingual staff added 10 export countries to their market. Companies that invested less said they missed out on contracts（合同）.
那些大力培养员工多语能力的德国企业能扩大市场，将出口国增加到10个。然而，那些不重视培养员工多语能力的公司流失了许多合同。
Researchers have also long highlighted the individual benefits of speaking more than one language.For those who find languages difficult, the good news is that you do not have to be fluent to feel a positive impact.
研究人员也早已指出，能说不止一种语言可以为个人带来收益。对于那些学习语言比较吃力的人来说，有个好消息，那就是他们不一定要达到流利的程度才能感受到积极影响。
Several studies show that languages boost earning power.
几项研究表明，知晓外语能提高个人收入能力。
In Florida, workers who speak both Spanish and English earn $7,000 per year more than those who only speak English.According to a Canadian study, bilingual men earn 3.6% and bilingual women earn 6.6% more than their English-only peers.
在佛罗里达，同时会说西班牙语和英语的工人比那些只会说英语的工人每年多挣7,000美元。根据一项加拿大的研究，会双语的男性比那些只会英语的男性能多挣3.6%，而对于女性来说，这个数字是6.6%。
The twist: this was true even if they didn't use their second language for work.
令人意外的是：即便他们不会在工作中使用第二语言，这个结果也成立。
"It seems you don't have to actually speak a second language on the job to reap（收获） the financial rewards of being bilingual," says economics professor Louis Christofides, one of the authors of the study.
“似乎在工作中，你不一定要真的说一门外语才能享受双语能力所带来的经济收益。” 经济学教授路易斯·赫里斯托菲说道，他是该项研究的作者之一。
The authors speculated that this was because knowing a second language was seen a sign of cognitive power, perseverance and a good education.
这些作者推测，这是因为懂一门外语是拥有较高认知能力、毅力和受过良好教育的标志。
Beyond these immediate economic rewards, languages can help a country's workforce in more subtle（微妙的）, long-term ways.
除了带来直接的经济效益，语言能力还能以更加微妙的、长远的方式来促进一个国家劳动力的发展。
Multilingualism has for example been shown to be good for brain health, delaying the onset of dementia.
比如，多语言能力有益于大脑健康，它可以延缓老年痴呆症的发生。
It has also been associated with a better ability to concentrate and process information.
多语言能力也与更好的专注力和处理信息的能力有着密切的联系。
The effects are strongest in people who were multilingual from a young age, but acquiring languages later still made a difference.
这些影响对于那些从年轻时就会说多门语言的人尤为显著，但是对于那些稍晚的外语学习者仍有效果
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