The Cognitive Benefits of Learning Native Language and Bilingualism in a Minority Group

Abstract

Objective: Studying the Arvanites a bilingual population in Greece that speak Arvanitika a dialect of Albanian language still spoken in vast areas of Greece is classified as minority language and in risk of extinction as endangered. The study aim to show the possible benefit in cognitive and cognitive related dysfunction of native speakers of Arvanitika from bilingualism [1]. Method: This is a population cohort study including bilingual speakers without exclusion criteria, sampling in the areas where Arvanite population traditionally lived achieving a sample number statistically important of 400 responders between 2018 2022 in a population unofficially ranging from 200000-16000000 or 15% of population and the comparable the same number of monolingual Greek speaker with similar background. Conclusion: A statistically analysis of data indicating benefit of bilingualism and importance of acquiring “mother linguae” in minority population group and how this influence further cognitive functions, capability for further learning including lower incidence of cognitive disorders.