I consider myself a polyglot, someone who speaks multiple languages.
Using the languages I learn is important to me. Itās a performance to use a foreign language, and I enjoy seeing how well I can do. Iām also curious about how others perform. Am I better than them, or are they better than me?
While many polyglots enjoy comparing language abilities, itās not about competition for me. I feel happy when I hear someone speak another language fluently, and I admire them. Even if someone only speaks one additional language but speaks it well, I am impressed. In my opinion, being a polyglot doesnāt necessarily mean speaking in multiple languages. Understanding and enjoying other languages at a deep level is sufficient.
Performing in different languages is not a requirement to be considered a polyglot, in my view.
What is the true definition of a polyglot? Can you be a silent polyglot?
Anna Karenina begins with the line
āŠŃŠµ ŃŃŠ°ŃŃŠ»ŠøŠ²ŃŠµ ŃŠµŠ¼ŃŠø ŠæŠ¾Ń Š¾Š¶Šø Š“ŃŃŠ³ Š½Š° Š“ŃŃŠ³Š°, ŠŗŠ°Š¶Š“Š°Ń Š½ŠµŃŃŠ°ŃŃŠ»ŠøŠ²Š°Ń ŃŠµŠ¼ŃŃ Š½ŠµŃŃŠ°ŃŃŠ»ŠøŠ²Š° ŠæŠ¾-ŃŠ²Š¾ŠµŠ¼Ńā.
Roughly translated: all happy families resemble each other, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. I turn that around and say every unhappy language learner is unhappy in the same way. They canāt do this, they canāt do that. Whereas every happy language learner is happy in his or her own way. In other words, we find our own way to happiness in language learning.
I remember being in a cafĆ© in Vienna in 1965. People would write questions in 13 languages to a deaf mute man, and he would answer in writing. Although he couldnāt speak, there wasnāt a question he couldnāt answer. In a sense, he was a silent polyglot.
People engage with languages differently
Some people understand languages well but donāt speak, while others are great at social conversations but have limited language knowledge.
To me, both approaches are valid. I enjoy engaging in social banter in languages I donāt speak fluently and getting a reaction from native speakers. Both ways of interacting with languages have their value in my opinion.
The definition of a polyglot as someone who āknows and is able to use several languagesā doesnāt necessarily imply speaking.
While the etymology of the word āpolyglotā may suggest speaking multiple languages, the dictionary definition focuses on knowing and being able to use languages. Reading and listening to a language also constitute a form of communication and language use.
Use it or lose itā¦ until you refresh
When I start learning a new language, I aim to understand it thoroughly. Below are my statistics from LingQ. At LingQ, we count every form of a word, so in languages like Slavic ones, the word count can quickly increase due to inflections.
As shown in my LingQ statistics, I know 20,000 words in Romanian. I dedicated time to learning Romanian due to my lumber business connections in Romania. I spent time listening, reading, and eventually having online conversations in Romanian.
During my visit to Romania, I had a driver who also acted as my guide and Romanian teacher. Speaking the language was well-received, as shown by the positive reactions I received from locals.
However, a year later in Edmonton, I encountered a Romanian girl but couldnāt communicate with her at all. This experience highlighted how language skills can diminish if not maintained at a certain level.
I was disappointed that I couldnāt say anything, but the language is still in there somewhere. If I were to spend a weekend listening and reading, a lot of it would come flooding back.
The idea that speaking multiple languages means you can instantly start a conversation or say something on request is wrong. It may take some time to refresh a language, depending on how long itās been since you last used it. Even polyglots like KatĆ³ Lomb had to refresh their languages from time to time.
Lomb, who was self-taught, believed in immersing herself in original novels in unfamiliar languages to learn. She skipped rare or complicated expressions, believing that important words would reappear eventually.
Language learning requires motivation, time, and overcoming inhibition. Itās like an upside-down hockey stick, with a steep learning curve at first followed by a gradual period of progress. Resources like audiobooks and language learning platforms can help in this journey. If I purchase the corresponding audiobook, I can utilize LingQ to study the words and enhance my listening skills.
Determining when to focus on output while seeking input is a crucial decision. Some individuals find that using newly acquired knowledge boosts their motivation, leading to more dedicated study time and reduced inhibition. On the other hand, some may feel inhibited by their lack of understanding and limited vocabulary, diminishing their motivation to speak early on.
It is essential for each person to evaluate their own motivation levels when it comes to speaking. Some may thrive on early speaking practice, while others may prefer to focus on listening and reading first. Both approaches are valid, and individuals can still consider themselves polyglots even if they are more inclined towards silent language learning.
In her book ā10 Core Practices for Better Writing,ā Melissa Donovan emphasizes the importance of learning grammar and vocabulary through engaging reading materials. By immersing oneself in rich content, language skills can improve significantly, leading to a broader vocabulary and enhanced writing abilities.
There are various interpretations of what it means to be a polyglot. Whether one prefers silent language learning or enjoys conversing in multiple languages, the key is to stay engaged, enjoy the learning process, and explore new languages.
Interested in learning languages through content you love? Join LingQ today for a personalized language learning experience.
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