First off, what is a hyperpolyglot? A ‘hyperpolyglot’ is a term coined by linguist Richard Hudson to describe a person with the ability to speak multiple languages. When I mean multiple, I mean 6 or more languages fluently. “That’s crazy!”, you might say – how could that even be possible? Believe it or not, there are a number of dedicated individuals in the world who have actually achieved this status. They are the new hyperpolyglots, and you might be surprised to discover how young some of these people are.
Take Timothy Doner, for example. If you haven’t heard of him in the media before, Timothy is a 19-year-old Harvard freshman who has already mastered 23 different languages. Doner humbly explains that he is fluent in six tongues (French, Farsi, Arabic, Hebrew, and German) but that he’s familiar and engaged with roughly 15 more (ranging from Indonesian to Ojibwe, and several African languages including Xhosa).
The most rewarding thing about attaining all of these languages, he says, is learning the different cultures from around the world. You discover the stories of a nation’s past, present, and future. When speaking in a different tongue, you are also shifting your mind slightly – certain words and phrases may not exist in other languages. This is because each culture has a unique perspective and window to viewing the world. Language reflects that.
” A person who speaks multiple languages has a stereoscopic vision of the world from two or more perspectives, enabling them to be more flexible in their thinking, and learn reading more easily. Multilinguals, therefore, are not restricted to a single world-view, but also have a better understanding that other outlooks are possible… ”
– Vivian Cook, 2001
Here are a few cool examples of words that I found without an English equivalence:
Obtaining multiple languages throughout your lifetime not only diversifies your mind, but is also a highly practical skill in the workforce. In fields like international business, knowing at least one other language other than your mother tongue (quite obviously) is a big plus when networking with people.
Being linguistically diverse may seem tough to attempt at first, but learning new languages usually get’s easier after knowing at least two other ones. Hey, most of you guys are probably bilingual already, am I right? Why not take a step further and impress your friends when you randomly whip out Italian during a social gathering? Learning a new language doesn’t have to cost you much. Find online references and worksheets, listen to free podcasts, borrow foreign books at the library and watch films without subtitles. Rosetta Stone may help, but it really isn’t necessary as long as you have the dedication, time, creativity, and passion to keep pressing forward.
…Bonne Chance / Buena Suerte!