What are Polyglots and How Are They Categorized

Ask anyone on the street to give you the definition oflanguage"? Knowing how to say "Hi my name is Joe"
the word "polyglot" and he'll mutter out somethingin 8 different languages won't mean you can speak
about "a person speaking many languages". Still, if wethose languages and it will definitely not make you a
go in depth we will find out that a polyglot is muchpolyglot. In order for you to be considered a speaker
more than this and they can be categorized throughof 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 ison grammar, spelling, pronunciation and other similar
"someone that has a high degree of proficiency withelements of that language.
several languages". But being a polyglot is in itself aAnother 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 ortowards how you separate languages. For example,
traveling purposes, it's also heightening to you as aScandinavian languages are quite similar to one
person in society and the views of others towardsanother 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 aretoo much effort in it, so learning both languages is easy
there and how you can "earn" your place in one ofonce you know one of them. This way, your language
these categories. Take note that when counting thecounter goes up 2 steps although you had an easy
number of languages one speaks, you alwaysjob. On the other end, a person learning the two major
consider his native tongue as well. Still, a person thatChinese dialects of Cantonese and Mandarin will spend
only knows one foreign language (thus can speak twomuch 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 debatea pain to learn) and still get a single buff to their
on whether or not people speaking three languageslanguage counter.
fluently should be called polyglots or simply trilingualObviously, this is all just theoretical talk, since no one will
speakers, but it's generally acknowledged that areally keep count of the languages you can speak.
person is only considered a true polyglot when he canHowever, they will most likely be impressed when
fluently speak 3 foreign languages or above, plus histhey'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 aboth Chinese dialects or 3-4 Slavic languages.