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Different Kinds of Polyglots | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Polyglots |  | |
 Fasulye Heptaglot Winner TAC 2012 Moderator Germany fasulyespolyglotblog Joined 5661 days ago 5460 posts - 6006 votes  1 sounds Speaks: German*, DutchC1, EnglishB2, French, Italian, Spanish, Esperanto Studies: Latin, Danish, Norwegian, Turkish Personal Language Map | Message 9 of 28 26 September 2009 at 10:09am | IP Logged | ||
Many polyglots learn languages that way. They take advantage of languages being closely related. I don't, because I have learned every language as a separate entity and I still do it this way. This causes more work, but it helps me to keep languages strictly seperate and it reduces language interferences. Fasulye Edited by Fasulye on 26 September 2009 at 10:11am 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| snoppingasusual Quadrilingual Hexaglot Groupie Lebanon Joined 5381 days ago 49 posts - 65 votes Speaks: Arabic (Egyptian), French*, English*, Arabic (Written)*, Arabic (Levantine)*, Spanish | Message 10 of 28 26 September 2009 at 1:18pm | IP Logged | ||
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After you learn fifteen or so languages, everything will start to become related.
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| Lingua Decaglot Senior Member United States Joined 5390 days ago 186 posts - 319 votes Speaks: English*, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, French, Norwegian, Portuguese, Dutch | Message 11 of 28 26 September 2009 at 1:25pm | IP Logged | ||
I also learn each language as a separate entity. Since I learn languages from extensive exposure to comprehensible input it would be difficult not to. However anything that is the same or similar in a new language makes it easier to acquire, even without consciously seeking to exploit the similarity. Edited by Lingua on 26 September 2009 at 1:27pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| ronp Heptaglot Newbie Australia ronpeek.blogspo Joined 5908 days ago 33 posts - 74 votes Speaks: English, Dutch*, German, Flemish, Italian, Spanish, French Studies: Norwegian, Mandarin, Esperanto, Finnish, Macedonian, Hindi, Greek, Indonesian, Lithuanian, Basque, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic (Written), Sign Language Studies: Turkish, Swahili | Message 12 of 28 26 September 2009 at 9:07pm | IP Logged | ||
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Interesting thread and posts.
I would agree that there are many different types of polyglot, depending on such factors as number of (core) languages learned/studied/acquired and actively being studied, proficiency levels across skills range (listening, reading, speaking, writing, signing, thinking/feeling in the language), cultural knowledge, as well as language maintenance and current use - it is not just about acquisition. It is also about the joy of discovery, learning and communicating. I currently think that one could position oneself, or be described (two different things), as a polyglot along a continuum, taking into account the above factors, which would include the three general groups identified in the other posts made in this thread. That is, if one would like to be described as a polyglot in the first place - some people do, some people don't, and to some it doesn't matter. As for me, I have a few core languages that I work with professionally as a translator, some others at intermediate level for communication, reading, listening and enjoyment, and a range of others I dip in and out of, with occasionally more indepth study, time and commitments allowing. If a language interests me, or if I meet some people who speak it, I like to learn more about that language, who speaks it, where it is spoken, how to speak//read/write/ sign in it, etc., and then it is up to me how far I want to take things (i.e. skills and proficiency level). Also, I believe that serial language learning (including maintenance) is a lifelong process, languages for life, so to speak. Ron Edited by ronp on 26 September 2009 at 9:52pm 6 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Xenoguy Triglot Newbie Taiwan Joined 5451 days ago 16 posts - 28 votes Speaks: English*, French, Mandarin Studies: Arabic (Written) | Message 13 of 28 28 September 2009 at 3:44am | IP Logged | ||
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Long ago, I also remember seeing references in a linguistics publication to yet one other type of learner, which if I recall correctly is a “serial competency, multi-lingual polyglot”. The term looks a little redundant, but has an explanation.
The difference is that this type of polyglot knows or may be learning a group of languages at the same time, but as each new language or group of languages is learned, others become rusty or tend to become passive. Thus, this polyglot always has competence in a number of languages, but not in the same ones over time. In essence, as each new language is learned, an old one falls off. I tend to fit in this category. But as my brother once cautioned me, “You shouldn’t describe yourself as a serial anything—people might get the wrong idea.” 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Fasulye Heptaglot Winner TAC 2012 Moderator Germany fasulyespolyglotblog Joined 5661 days ago 5460 posts - 6006 votes 1 sounds Speaks: German*, DutchC1, EnglishB2, French, Italian, Spanish, Esperanto Studies: Latin, Danish, Norwegian, Turkish Personal Language Map | Message 14 of 28 28 September 2009 at 1:00pm | IP Logged | ||
(EDIT) I won't give any advice! I deliberately abandoned three languages (Russian, Ancient Greek and Portuguese), because I only learned them having a good occasion. But I am always very busy keeping my other languages alive and in good shape, which is not easy for me without being able to travel or having much native spreaker contacts. Fasulye Edited by Fasulye on 30 September 2009 at 8:48am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Xenoguy Triglot Newbie Taiwan Joined 5451 days ago 16 posts - 28 votes Speaks: English*, French, Mandarin Studies: Arabic (Written) | Message 15 of 28 29 September 2009 at 7:53am | IP Logged | ||
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Hmm...a Moderator in the Polyglot Forum has advised that I am not a polyglot because I'm rusty in some languages even though I’ve worked and lived in 8 countries and still read books and watch movies in those languages…what to do?
I am not looking to compete with anyone for the title of Supreme Polyglot of All Time. I always appreciate the forum’s quest to share insight into this fascinating topic, but often wonder if psychological needs--instead of linguistic parameters--have the greatest impact on the definitions that are floated here. Sometimes this can be a harsh group (and on the other hand, sometimes the truth hurts). Still, I hope we can veer away from the way of thinking epitomized by the quote, “it is not enough that I should win; my opponents must also lose.” Anyway, if I can’t be a polyglot, please suggest an appropriate term for me. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Fasulye Heptaglot Winner TAC 2012 Moderator Germany fasulyespolyglotblog Joined 5661 days ago 5460 posts - 6006 votes 1 sounds Speaks: German*, DutchC1, EnglishB2, French, Italian, Spanish, Esperanto Studies: Latin, Danish, Norwegian, Turkish Personal Language Map | Message 16 of 28 29 September 2009 at 10:39am | IP Logged | ||
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Oh, I thought you had lost your language skills completly. This happened to me, because I lost my language skills in Russian, Portuguese, Ancient Greek and Danish. Therefore I don't list these languages in my profile.
If you have reading and listening skills in many languages, that's worth a lot. Wouldn't a "polyglot of passive language knowledge" be appropriate? Fasulye 1 person has voted this message useful |
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