| Ask anyone on the street to give you the definition of | | | | language"? Knowing how to say "Hi my name is Joe" |
| the word "polyglot" and he'll mutter out something | | | | in 8 different languages won't mean you can speak |
| about "a person speaking many languages". Still, if we | | | | those languages and it will definitely not make you a |
| go in depth we will find out that a polyglot is much | | | | polyglot. In order for you to be considered a speaker |
| more than this and they can be categorized through | | | | of a certain language you need to have a moderately |
| various means. | | | | solid base of vocabulary as well as an average grip |
| Strictly put, the dictionary definition of a polyglot is | | | | on grammar, spelling, pronunciation and other similar |
| "someone that has a high degree of proficiency with | | | | elements of that language. |
| several languages". But being a polyglot is in itself a | | | | Another problem that appears when dealing with this |
| cultural and social status and this is undeniable. | | | | "language counting" phenomenon is the lack of clarity |
| Knowing many languages isn't just helpful for career or | | | | towards how you separate languages. For example, |
| traveling purposes, it's also heightening to you as a | | | | Scandinavian languages are quite similar to one |
| person in society and the views of others towards | | | | another and a Norwegian speaker for example can |
| you will be undoubtedly changed for the better. | | | | usually understand a Swedish speaker without putting |
| But let's see what different types of polyglots are | | | | too much effort in it, so learning both languages is easy |
| there and how you can "earn" your place in one of | | | | once you know one of them. This way, your language |
| these categories. Take note that when counting the | | | | counter goes up 2 steps although you had an easy |
| number of languages one speaks, you always | | | | job. On the other end, a person learning the two major |
| consider his native tongue as well. Still, a person that | | | | Chinese dialects of Cantonese and Mandarin will spend |
| only knows one foreign language (thus can speak two | | | | much more effort into them (the two dialects differ |
| languages fluently) is not considered a polyglot. Instead, | | | | heavily and they are quite large and complicated, thus |
| he is considered a "bilingual speaker". There's a debate | | | | a pain to learn) and still get a single buff to their |
| on whether or not people speaking three languages | | | | language counter. |
| fluently should be called polyglots or simply trilingual | | | | Obviously, this is all just theoretical talk, since no one will |
| speakers, but it's generally acknowledged that a | | | | really keep count of the languages you can speak. |
| person is only considered a true polyglot when he can | | | | However, they will most likely be impressed when |
| fluently speak 3 foreign languages or above, plus his | | | | they'll hear you talk in 3 or more languages on different |
| native tongue. | | | | occasions or when they'll notice you can fluently talk |
| Still, how do you define a person as "speaking a | | | | both Chinese dialects or 3-4 Slavic languages. |