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