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Polyglot after 20? | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Polyglots |  | |
| Boondocksaint Newbie United States Joined 6598 days ago 1 posts - 2 votes | Message 1 of 57 31 October 2006 at 9:16pm | IP Logged | ||
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There is a strong theory that children have the easist time learing multiple languages, as their brains are able to absorb grammar, vocab, etc. easier.
I was wondering, have there been any famous polygots who have learned many languages after the age of, say, 20? 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| WANNABEAFREAK Diglot Senior Member Hong Kong cantonese.hk Joined 6826 days ago 144 posts - 185 votes  1 sounds Speaks: English*, Cantonese Studies: French | Message 2 of 57 01 November 2006 at 1:53am | IP Logged | ||
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Steve Kaufmann.
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| Captain Haddock Diglot Senior Member Japan kanjicabinet.tumblr. Joined 6767 days ago 2282 posts - 2814 votes Speaks: English*, Japanese Studies: French, Korean, Ancient Greek | Message 3 of 57 01 November 2006 at 2:41am | IP Logged | ||
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This board's most prolific polyglot, Ardaschir, learned most of his languages in his thirties. (He speaks over twenty.)
He's not particularly famous, though. :) 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Journeyer Triglot Senior Member United States tristan85.blogspot.c Joined 6867 days ago 946 posts - 1110 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, German Studies: Sign Language | Message 4 of 57 01 November 2006 at 5:32am | IP Logged | ||
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Kato Lomb, from Hungary. Check out the thread about her. Edited by Journeyer on 01 November 2006 at 5:32am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| SamD Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 6658 days ago 823 posts - 987 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French Studies: Portuguese, Norwegian | Message 5 of 57 02 November 2006 at 8:54am | IP Logged | ||
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Such people exist, but it is probably much easier to start out well before 20. It takes time to learn lots of languages, and younger people have more years ahead of them. Older learners also seem likely to have more and greater other responsibilities.
At the same time, I certainly wouldn't want to discourage anyone over 20--or even much older--from learning lots of languages. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Zelaia Tetraglot Newbie El Salvador Joined 6808 days ago 29 posts - 37 votes Speaks: Spanish*, FrenchC1, English, Portuguese Studies: Kurdish | Message 6 of 57 03 November 2006 at 8:02am | IP Logged | ||
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Personally I think that most of people can become a polyglot after 20, it's just a matter of courage and determination.
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| lady_skywalker Triglot Senior Member Netherlands aspiringpolyglotblog Joined 6889 days ago 909 posts - 942 votes Speaks: Spanish, English*, Mandarin Studies: Japanese, French, Dutch, Italian | Message 7 of 57 03 November 2006 at 8:50am | IP Logged | ||
And time. The vast majority of people over 20 have precious little free time, especially if they have long work hours or have children. That's not to say that people can't find an hour or even half an hour each day to dedicate to language learning but how many people feel like taking out their study books or CDs after a long day at the office (or wherever you happen to work)? I think the one advantage adults have over children and teenagers is that they are more likely to have the discipline needed for learning a language, especially if it is through self-study. Most adults have a far greater concentration span than your average teenager and can probably use their limited free time more efficiently. I sometimes feel that the determination and discipline of an adult and the curiosity and free time of a child would be the ideal ingredients for aspiring polyglots over the age of 20. Sadly, how many of us have all the free time we need to dedicate to language learning? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Captain Haddock Diglot Senior Member Japan kanjicabinet.tumblr. Joined 6767 days ago 2282 posts - 2814 votes Speaks: English*, Japanese Studies: French, Korean, Ancient Greek | Message 8 of 57 03 November 2006 at 9:31am | IP Logged | ||
I guess that's why only the most passionate or enthusiastic of us try, and hang out on forums like this one! :) The way adults allocate their time does vary from culture to culture. Americans and Canadians really have no excuse; the average North American spends more than 1000 hours each year watching TV, and that time could be used to learn one new language every year. The Japanese don't watch as much TV, but the average male spends much more time on work or work-related functions. As a result, it tends to be the women who learn languages as a hobby. Edited by Captain Haddock on 03 November 2006 at 9:32am 1 person has voted this message useful |
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