Polyglot (person)
A polyglot is someone with a high degree of proficiency in several languages. A bilingual person can speak two languages fluently, whereas a trilingual three; above that the term multilingual may be used.
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[edit] Hyperpolyglot
A hyperpolyglot is one who can speak six or more languages fluently. The term was coined by the linguist Richard Hudson in 2003 and derives from the word "polyglot", meaning one who can speak multiple languages.[1]
Notable hyperpolyglots:
- Sosrokartono claimed to speak 34 languages (24 non-Indonesian languages, 10 local Indonesian languages)[2]
- Faizan Ali Varya claimed to speak 26 languages
- Uku Masing (1909–1985), an Estonian linguist, theologian, ethnologist, and poet. Claim: fluent in approximately 65 languages, translated from 20.[3]
- Harold Williams (1876–1928), New Zealand journalist and linguist. Claim: over 58 languages.[4]
- Giuseppe Mezzofanti (1774-1849), Italian Cardinal, fluently spoke 39 languages.[5]
- Mario Pei (1901-1978), Italian-American linguist and writer. Claim: fluent in at least 38 languages and acquainted with the structure of over 100 of the world's languages.
- Emil Krebs (1867-1930) German polyglot and sinologist. He mastered 68 languages in speech and writing and studied 120 other languages.
- Friedrich Engels mastered over 20 languages.
- John Bowring could speak 100 languages.
- Hans Conon von der Gabelentz worked on over 80 languages.
- Ioannis Ikonomou, chief translator at the EU parliament, speaks 32 languages fluently.
- Joseph Caspar Mezzofanti, could speak 28 languages fluently and 8 others.
- Nicolae Iorga could speak French, Italian, Latin and Greek fluently at the age of fifteen.
[edit] Learning abilities
There are several theories as to why some people learn many languages with relative ease, while others struggle learning even one foreign language. One theory is that a spike in testosterone levels in the womb can increase a brain’s asymmetry.[6]
The neuroscientist Katrin Amunts studied the brain of Emil Krebs and determined that the area of Krebs' brain responsible for language—Broca's area—was organized differently than in monolingual men. On the other hand, the neurolinguist Loraine Obler has suggested a link with the Geschwind–Galaburda cluster, which shows a high coincidence of left-handedness, auto-immune disorders, learning disorders and talents in art, mathematics and, possibly, languages.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://spinner.cofc.edu/linguist/archives/2005/11/?referrer=webcluster&
- ^ Biografi RMP Sosrokartono (Kakak Kandung RA. Kartini) - Bagian 1 | Ripiu
- ^ VM.ee
- ^ NZedge.com
- ^ C. W. Russel, D.D., 1863, Longman & Green, London
- ^ Leland, John (9 March 2012). "Adventures of a Teenage Polyglot". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/nyregion/a-teenage-master-of-languages-finds-online-fellowship.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ Michaelerard.com
- Newscientist.com, The Gift of the Gab", 2481, 40-43.
[edit] Further reading
- Babel No More: The Search for the World’s Most Extraordinary Language Learners. By Michael Erard. Free Press; 306 pages.
