Language & Cognition: Assoc. Prof. Renata Meuter visit to Universitas Airlangga

In her visit to Universitas Airlangga, Assoc. Prof. Renata Meuter from Queensland University of Technology, discussed the paradox of language switching. The switching of language occurs when an individual alternates between their native or first language and second language. There is a cognitive advantage in bilingualism, for instance, the cognitive process of an individual who is bilingual differs from an individual who is monolingual, as the process of language switching is related to individuals’ cognitive control. Assoc. Prof. Meuter herself speaks 6 languages, including English, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian and Curacao.

Learning language is more than simply turning your brain into a lexicon of verbs and nouns. Developing a true understanding of language is an intricate work of mashing syllables together, slotting words into the Merriam-Webster of our brain, and exploring a wide array of vocabularies before we carefully construct a coherent sentence. Having a conversation in another language about, let’s say, pineapple, requires more than the recollection of its colour, texture and taste—you should be able to project them into words.

Aside from the academic purpose of her visit to Universitas Airlangga, Assoc. Prof. Meuter also came for a cultural exchange. The night she arrived in Surabaya, she went to the classical music concert Ensemble Trielen presented by French musician in coordination with Institut Francais Indonesia (IFI) Surabaya. Right after the discussion of cognitive and language processing in the ‘Excellence with Morality’ hall at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Airlangga, Assoc. Prof. Meuter went on a city tour along with Mrs. Margaretha, one of the lecturers in the Faculty of Psychology, and two members of the Faculty Ambassador.

The first place Assoc. Prof. Meuter explored in Surabaya was the traditional market of Pucang. As the guide in this city tour, Mrs. Margaretha introduced her to some of the many fruits unique to Indonesia, in which Assoc. Prof. Meuter found to be fascinating and artistic—quoting her own words, “There’s a sense of abundance.” The next place was Mirota, a local handicraft and souvenir shop where it was brimming with a traditional Javanese ambience. Mrs. Margaretha explained the details of the marvelous Batik collections and the exquisite Javanese handicrafts found in the store. The city tour ended with a delightful dinner at an infamous vegetarian restaurant in town.

Assoc. Prof. Meuter’s visit to Universitas Airlangga did not only give us the understanding of human’s cognitive process and the motivation to learn another language, her views on Indonesia’s culture and society also gave us an insight on how prosperous our beloved nation is—alas, we don’t dedicate ourselves to nurture it, there are still many rooms for improvement. Hopefully, this pleasant experience helps creating a sense of devotion and social responsibility toward our society. (Faculty Ambassador/Sasanti)