Polyglotism: Difference between revisions
→Hyperpolyglot: There was two time "Harold Williams" in the notable hyperpolyglots list ^__^ |
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* [[Faizan Ali Varya]] claimed to speak 26 languages |
* [[Faizan Ali Varya]] claimed to speak 26 languages |
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*[[Ziad Fazah]] (Disputed) claims to speak 58 languages. In a video on Youtube from the TV-Show "Viva el lunes" in which he wasn't able to answer questions properly in different languages. |
*[[Ziad Fazah]] (Disputed) claims to speak 58 languages. In a video on Youtube from the TV-Show "Viva el lunes" in which he wasn't able to answer questions properly in different languages. |
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*[[Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti]] was said to have spoken 39 languages. |
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* [[Uku Masing]] (1909–1985), an Estonian linguist, theologian, ethnologist, and poet. Claim: fluent in approximately 65 languages, translated from 20.<ref>[http://www.vm.ee/est/kat_29/3909.html VM.ee]</ref> |
* [[Uku Masing]] (1909–1985), an Estonian linguist, theologian, ethnologist, and poet. Claim: fluent in approximately 65 languages, translated from 20.<ref>[http://www.vm.ee/est/kat_29/3909.html VM.ee]</ref> |
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* [[Harold Williams (linguist)|Harold Williams]] ([[1876]]–[[1928]]), New Zealand journalist and linguist. Claim: over 58 languages.<ref>[http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/williams.html NZedge.com]</ref> |
* [[Harold Williams (linguist)|Harold Williams]] ([[1876]]–[[1928]]), New Zealand journalist and linguist. Claim: over 58 languages.<ref>[http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/williams.html NZedge.com]</ref> |
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* [[Ziad Fazah]] (born 1954), raised in [[Lebanon]], living in [[Brazil]] since the 1970s. Claim: speaks, reads and understands 58 languages.<ref>[http://www.scapin.org/ziad_fazah.htm Scapin.org]</ref> Claim nullified however,as the segment on television in which he participates clearly shows. |
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*[[Giuseppe Mezzofanti]] ([[1774]]-[[1849]]), Italian Cardinal, fluently spoke 39 languages.<ref>C. W. Russel, D.D., 1863, Longman & Green, London</ref> |
*[[Giuseppe Mezzofanti]] ([[1774]]-[[1849]]), Italian Cardinal, fluently spoke 39 languages.<ref>C. W. Russel, D.D., 1863, Longman & Green, London</ref> |
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* [[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. |
* [[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. |
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Revision as of 14:37, 17 January 2012
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.
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
- Ziad Fazah (Disputed) claims to speak 58 languages. In a video on Youtube from the TV-Show "Viva el lunes" in which he wasn't able to answer questions properly in different 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.
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.
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.[6]
References
- ^ http://spinner.cofc.edu/linguist/archives/2005/11/?referrer=webcluster&
- ^ http://ripiu.com/article/read/rmp-sosrokartono-1
- ^ VM.ee
- ^ NZedge.com
- ^ C. W. Russel, D.D., 1863, Longman & Green, London
- ^ Michaelerard.com
- Newscientist.com, The Gift of the Gab", 2481, 40-43.
Further reading
- Babel No More: The Search for the World’s Most Extraordinary Language Learners. By Michael Erard. Free Press; 306 pages.