Issue 282 - Being a polyglot

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Basic

Vocabulary: Languages and nationalities

Look at the flags and listen to the nationalities and languages.

 

 Look at the flags. What language do they speak in each country? Choose the correct option.

 

 

Being a polyglot

Listen to the podcast and read.

Being a polyglot

A polyglot is a person who can speak, understand, and often read and write in multiple languages. Polyglots usually know four or more languages. Knowing different languages has many advantages.

Polyglots use their language skills in different aspects of their lives, including travel, work, and social interactions. They can easily change from one language to another.

In theory, there is no limit to how many languages a person can learn. However, there are practical considerations. It is important to have time and to be committed. It is also important to have opportunities to practise.

The human brain is extremely adaptable. However, there is a limit to how much information it can retain and process. One famous Lebanese polyglot, Ziad Fazah, can speak more than 50 languages. Hungarian translator Kató Lomb (1909-2003) was one of the world’s first simultaneous interpreters and was fluent in 17 languages. She could simultaneously translate Russian, German, English and French, and was completely fluent in Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Polish.

Other polyglots include actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper, Mila Kunis and Penelope Cruz and the singer Shakira, who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Italian. Polyglots in the past include actress Audrey Hepburn (six languages), Queen Elizabeth I (ten languages), and Cleopatra, who was able to speak seven languages.

Being a polyglot is a great achievement. It shows how incredible the human brain is. You can learn one new language or many. The journey of language learning brings many benefits, opportunities and adventures.

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Intermediate

 

Being a polyglot

Listen to the podcast and read. Then answer the questions in the Comprehension section.

Being a polyglot

A polyglot is a person who can speak, understand, and often read and write in multiple languages. Polyglots are not just bilingual or trilingual; they often know four or more languages. Knowing different languages has many advantages.

Polyglots often use their language skills in various aspects of their lives, including travel, work, and social interactions, and they can switch easily between languages.

In theory, there is no limit to how many languages a person can learn. However, there are practical considerations. It is important to have time and to be committted. Also, maintenance is important, which means having opportunities to practise regularly.

Being a polyglot implies considerable cognitive load for the brain. While the human brain is remarkably adaptable, there is a cognitive limit to how much information it can effectively retain and process. This limit varies from person to person. One famous Lebanese polyglot, Ziad Fazah, is claimed to be able to speak more than 50 languages. Hungarian translator Kató Lomb (1909-2003) was one of the world’s first simultaneous interpreters and was fluent in 17 languages. She could simultaneously translate Russian, German, English and French, and was completely fluent in Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Polish.

It appears that polyglots are not uncommon. The actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper, Mila Kunis and Penelope Cruz are polyglots, as is the singer Shakira who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Italian. Other polyglots back in history include actress Audrey Hepburn (six languages), Queen Elizabeth I (ten languages), and even Cleopatra, who was able to speak seven languages, including the languages of the Medes, Parthians, Jews, Arabs, Syrians, Troglodytae, and Ethiopians.

Being a polyglot is a great achievement. It demonstrates the incredible capacity of the human brain to adapt and learn. Whether you choose to learn one language at a time or take on the challenge of learning multiple languages, the journey of language learning is extremely fulfilling and offers many benefits, opportunities and adventures.

Now answer the questions in the Comprehension section.

Comprehension: Check your understanding

Choose the correct option.

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Net Languages courses
Advanced

 

Being a polyglot

Listen to the podcast and read. Then answer the questions in the Comprehension section.

Being a polyglot

Being a polyglot means having the ability to speak, understand, and often read and write in multiple languages. Polyglots are not just bilingual or trilingual; they typically know four or more languages. This multilingual ability opens doors to diverse cultures, enhances cognitive abilities, and is a valuable asset in globalized environments.

Polyglots often use their language skills in various aspects of their lives, including travel, work, and social interactions. They can switch seamlessly between languages, demonstrating a high level of linguistic flexibility.

Theoretically, there is no limit to how many languages a person can learn. However, practical considerations do come into play. Obviously, it is important to have time and to be committed. Mastering multiple languages demands a considerable investment of both. Also, maintenance is important, which means having ongoing opportunities to practise regularly.

Understandably, being a polyglot implies considerable cognitive load for the brain. While the human brain is remarkably adaptable, there is a cognitive limit to how much information can be effectively processed and retained. This limit varies from person to person. One famous Liberian-born Lebanese polyglot, Ziad Fazah, is claimed to be able to speak more than 50 languages. Noted Hungarian translator Kató Lomb (1909-2003) was one of the world’s first simultaneous interpreters and had a degree of fluency in 17 languages. She could simultaneously translate Russian, German, English and French, and was completely fluent in Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Polish.

It appears that polyglots are not that uncommon. The actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper, Mila Kunis and Penelope Cruz are polyglots, as is the singer Shakira who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Italian. Actress Natalie Portman speaks six languages: English Japanese, Hebrew, French, Spanish and German. Other polyglots back in history include actress Audrey Hepburn (six languages), Queen Elizabeth I (ten languages), and even Cleopatra, who was able to speak seven languages, including the languages of the Medes, Parthians, Jews, Arabs, Syrians, Troglodytae, and Ethiopians.

Being a polyglot is a remarkable and rewarding achievement that showcases the incredible capacity of the human brain to adapt and learn. Whether you choose to focus on one language at a time or take on the challenge of learning multiple languages together, the journey of language learning is a deeply fulfilling one that offers countless benefits, opportunities and potential adventures.

Now answer the questions in the Comprehension section.

Comprehension: Check your understanding

Choose the correct option.

Interview: listen to more about the topic

Think about your answers to the following questions. Then listen to somebody answering the same questions. Were your answers similar?

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